How to Live Fully in a Dysfunctional World

Do you think times in our country today are bad? Well, think about the 1960’s, John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Medgar Edwards, just to mention a few of the country’s leaders were assassinated. We were in the throes of the Vietnam War that divided the country. We had race riots in our cities. Colleges were forced to temporarily shut down, and their students were mass protesting. The national guard was called in during one of those college protests and shot and killed an innocent bystander on campus. Yet people weathered through them, and many great things happened. It could have been called the best of times and the worst of times.

Yet today we hear people voicing feelings of anxiety, frustration and discontentment, complaining that the world is in the worse shape it has ever been. Everyone has an opinion as to the sources of these dire conditions and it is usually “those others out there.” New information that may contradict these negative opinions and assumptions are usually resisted and contradicted. People tend to seek consistency in their attitudes and perceptions. They tend to be uncomfortable with new information that is inconsistent with what they believe to be true. Therefore, any new or different information is often rejected, explained away or outright avoided.

What are the sources? The list is extensive. be it from pollical figures, news media, corporate conglomerates, religious leaders, talk shows, social media outlets, to mention a few. Hence if a professed lie is repeated often enough, it is viewed as the truth and if the truth is distorted often enough, it becomes viewed as a lie. The results are the left attacks the right and the right attacks the left. Whatever the label, groups of people attack those who are perceived as different, hence wrong.

With all of us surrounded by these dysfunctional messages, how do we live fully? The following is some food for thought.

Believe that Small Actions Matter. – Grand accomplishments are rare. It’s the small, persistent acts of care and reaching out to others that make the difference. Touch other people’s lives, even in a chance meeting. It can plant a seed that may germinate. In the face of overwhelming challenges, remember that even small acts contribute positively to the wider world.

Resist the temptation to be cynical. – The world has aways had examples of injustices and greed. It also has ample evidence of honesty, courage and integrity. Keep those real positive qualities in mind when things seem darkest. It easy to be cynical. But there is another world as well, full of sincere people. Be open to them.

Take Responsibility for Your Actions. -Be aware of your role in reinforcing the status quo of negativity. Recognize that every decision you make, every conversation you engage in, what you support or oppose, reflects the essence of who you are and the values you hold dear. Make sure they represent you as a person and not what has been feed to you by your environment.

Pursue Truth Relentlessly. – In a culture that is flooded with false narratives and misinformation, it may be easier to be complacent. However, actively seek truth. Be aware of the hypocrites who are self-serving and who put down the less fortunate. Be aware of opportunities to educate and enlighten others by your own words and behavior.

Build Resilient relationships. – Foster relationships with others that promote connectedness, a sense of mutual support and fellowship. This will resist feeling isolated and strengthen mutual trust and solidarity, which can withstand outside forces designed to divide and control.

Be involved in your world on levels that are most comfortable for you. – Find ways to resist oppression and injustice without reinforcing the negativism around you. To appropriately let your voice be known requires courage, discipline, and empathy. This includes with those you may consider ignorant in ways that oppress others.

Implementing any of these steps may not be easy, considering all the other demands we have to deal with in our daily lives. Know that you do not have to do it all. Focus only on what you can realistically do, no matter how small you may think it is. Many small steps together can make a big difference in the world.