What does effective, nonviolent power look like? Do you ever find yourself wishing that you had a roadmap to help you navigate the complex issues of violence, inequity, and domination that currently surround us? Do you wish you had more clarity on what exactly each of us could do that would actually impact meaningful change?
The seeds and roots of these global crises start out small and personal, in our individual hearts and in each of our personal relationships. If you want to make a meaningful difference in creating a different world, let me suggest some personal growth tasks that you might want to consider taking on.
Most of us were raised in what I like to call domination cultures. Domination cultures run on power and control, shame and blame, fear and righteousness. In these cultures, we’re conditioned to see the world through one primary (often unconscious) question.
The psychological and physical violence that wants to erupt is calling for an equal and opposite healing presence from those of us who feel called to live into a new way of being. So, how do we change things? How can we become a more humanizing force in our communities?
I spent this weekend immersing myself in the latest research on narcissism, psychopathy, grandiosity, magical thinking, and delusional disorders, and I’m feeling deeply disturbed. It’s hard for me not to just throw up my hands, announce that the world has gone mad, find a cabin deep in some remote forest, and busy myself with feeding squirrels and reading poetry… I find myself turning to principles of shared humanity, intellectual humility, kindness, and my deep dedication to learning and growth.