{"id":215,"date":"2020-11-30T14:59:31","date_gmt":"2020-11-30T19:59:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healingdivision.com\/?p=215"},"modified":"2020-12-03T22:13:21","modified_gmt":"2020-12-04T03:13:21","slug":"multiple-perspectives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healingdivision.com\/2020\/11\/30\/multiple-perspectives\/","title":{"rendered":"Multiple Perspectives"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
Recently, I have heard people from opposing political viewpoints express their hopes that this nation can be unified. If this means that everyone will believe the same thing about reproductive rights and religion, I don\u2019t believe we will see unity at that level. However, we can heal division without being unified in all of our beliefs. There are certain things people will never agree upon and that is okay. Healthy discourse and debate are part of democracy. We can still cultivate understanding, acknowledge both the heroes and horrors of our history, and build a better society together.<\/p>
Discourse<\/strong><\/p> Healthy discourse requires good leadership from our \u201cthought leaders,\u201d including reporters, politicians, and educators at every level. It also requires a level of respect and measured appetite from consumers of media. When people are drawn to the extreme, whether it is extreme behavior that includes name-calling, threats of violence, and more, that is a problem of the people, a problem of appetite.<\/p> Advertising and news stories are based upon algorithms that track our consumption. When we allow fear and lust for power to dominate our media consumption, we are contributing directly to the news stories presented and the bias that is cultivated. If we approach media seeking not to be comforted but to understand, our measured appetites will produce a more balanced news source and will not reward those who cater to these impulses. Balanced news sources can contribute to healthy discourse.\u00a0<\/p> Most importantly, healthy discourse requires listening and willingness to understand someone who holds a different perspective than yourself. As a therapist who works with couples and families, I need to do this in every session. The better I am at holding multiple perspectives, the better therapy I provide. It is a skill that requires an ability to self-regulate and empathize with the feelings, beliefs, and concerns of all parties. However, I have found it is easier to do this in my work than it is when interacting with my own dear family members. There are times when speaking with my relatives that I have felt very anxious and deeply saddened at disagreement. I find myself wishing we all believed and thought similarly; to be honest, I wish they all believed the same things as me. We are physiologically wired to care more about and react more passionately with those with whom we have shared our safe space growing up, our homes, and our hearts. As a professional, I understand the why and the how, but self-regulation and attuned understanding require practice in my personal life as well. We are all on this journey of growth together.<\/p> Disrupt the System<\/strong><\/p> In 2016, we learned people craved disruption as they felt their concerns were not being heard by the establishment. These people voted for Trump, who they believed would disrupt the status quo, the long-time political establishment. They view the system as corrupt and unjust, a system at work to reduce opportunity for domestic job growth and to dismantle religious freedom of expression. This is the system disruption craved by \u201cthe right.\u201d<\/p>