Campaign clatter is about to crescendo after more than two years of chatter. Are you tired of hearing the same old, same old facts, debates, accusations and cries volleyed between candidates and their supporters? Would you like a couple time-tested, common-sense ways to cut through all this clatter? (Actually, the following two ideas work on just about any clatter cluttering up your mind.)
With less than two months to go until the next general election, there's a job for all U.S. adults to complete. The job? To vote. The pay? Priceless! Priceless as in how do you place a price on your pursuit of life, liberty and happiness?
How can you cut through clatter with speed and grace? Based on first-hand experience over two decades as a social worker, life-coach, and therapist (who enjoys a life with far less clutter than most seem to face) I offer two suggestions to cut through clatter:
- Trust your gut versus your mind.
- Use first-hand experiences vs. social gossip, advertising or sexy incentives.
This election cycle, we need ways to vote more wisely than just knee-jerk reactions caused by endless attack ads or constant bickering about whose stats are more valid than the other's.
Suggestion One: Vote with your GUT-level feelings. Answer the following questions within seconds of reading it. Trust your gut level responses. If you feel conflict, you're feeling your ego doing it's best to create more clutter in the form of feeling doubts, guilt, shame or worry.
- How do you really feel about your ability to pursue your rights to life, liberty and happiness? Which candidate demonstrates -- by their documented actions (more than their words) -- their ability to help you enjoy more life, liberty and happiness?
What's your level of trust in your candidates? Which candidates offer the most information about themselves for anyone to be able to make their own decisions? Given this campaign's laser-focus attention on jobs and financial debt (two common issues in most election cycles), you may notice an increased awareness of how your sense of worth is based on your sense of work or debt levels. Is work the only way you define your worth? Which candidate demonstrates a more robust life (balancing work, play, family, etc.)? Is financial debt (or lack of it) the only way you define your worth? Which candidate values your bank balance more than your balanced way of living life? If you're employed but hate your work, which candidate offers you the most hope of finding a better job? Suggestion Two: Vote based on first-hand life experience vs. social gossip or political ads. Listen to debates when possible. Avoid debate analysis -- you're smart enough to trust your gut level feelings!
- What kind of life do you live right now? More often than not, does life feel balanced? For example, list the top five people you know and interact with on a regular basis. Does the relationship feel balanced to you?
Sharing: A two-way street of giving and receiving that creates a healthy sense of balance (feel respected). Taking: A one-way street of primarily giving or only receiving, thus creating a sense of unbalance (feel used). Which candidate feels like they're in balance with what they have done for you and what you want them to do? What kind of life do you want to live going forward? Do you want less or more stress Which candidate seems to offer ways to reduce stress? Less stress: Fewer rules, fewer laws, more favorable tax laws, less taking away of your rights. More stress: More rules, more laws (that favor a few), higher taxes, more barriers to living freely.Remember, as you answer these questions, answer them quickly. Trust your gut feelings. If you sense clatter, it's your mind (ego) creating that clatter through creating doubts, sense of guilt, shame or worry. When you ponder these two ideas to cut clatter, you gain:
- more clarity to support making sound decisions
- stronger sense of stability no matter election outcomes
- solid sense of direction when it comes to adapting to change
As we take leave of summer activities to prepare for fall's arrival (Saturday, Sept. 22), may you find the time and attention to ponder these two suggestions.
Do you know of others who are wanting to cut through clatter? Share this post with them. What other ways do you know to cut clatter? Post them here. I LOVE to learn!
This election cycle, it's time to elect leaders who demonstrate a desire to resolve discrimination for all citizens.
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