This month’s reality of a psychologically dysfunctional government--void of integrity, accountability and global pride, left me with a stunned sense of WOW! I mean really, this fiasco has taken the Wow Factor to a whole new level.
I have said before, those of us who are Obama supporters (whether we recognized it or not), are asking for a wealthier way of life--richer ground. A major factor in Asking for Richer Ground is to have a discerning strength that ask some hard questions, first of ourselves and then of those around us.
In the midst of this governmental disgrace, as individuals, we should be learning some valuable life lessons here. One such lesson is that we should never relinquish the complete ownership of our future to one person or entity unregulated. Secondly, “trust” is not a spectator sport--it is a relationship of reliance, and of the unknown. Because trust is far away, cannot be verified, and is in the future, it is much scarier to have confidence in the new or unfamiliar.
But here’s the true “Wow Factor.” Obama has consistently encouraged all of us as individuals to take a more active role in ourselves, our future, and the society we live in--this is known as a “participatory democracy” (I encourage you to research this term). He has consistently said the strength of our future rest in a “bottom up” approach to government, where “we the people” become the driving force. Therefore, the trust we have to have is not so much in Obama, but in ourselves--and maybe that’s the real reason others can’t or won’t support him. Being the victim, having the privilege to blame others for our lack comes with a host of secondary gains--some that have shaped our identity. Having a relationship of reliance in ourselves, for many, is uncharted territory, filled with self-doubt and a fear that who we are is not good enough for our future.
Becoming aware of the attitudes and beliefs that may interfere with our ability to embrace a new future for ourselves can be found in our ability to assess the “what” of our lives:
1. What is my current situation?
2. What seems necessary for my happiness?
3. What are the factors that have influenced my decisions?
4. What changes am I willing to make?
5. What efforts am I willing to initiate?
On the horizon is change we can believe in--but it starts with believing in ourselves first. If we can’t do this for ourselves, how can we honestly expect or demand this from others.
