Whenever something terrible happens like the deadly Captiol insurrection, I think about my own responsibility to work against such violence and vandalism because while there are truly evil perpetrators, like Trump and his cronies, that choose to create such violent events, we all play a part when it comes to forwarding the good or promoting the bad.
There are some simple, initial rules in this regard:
- Follow the rules and laws, and if you don't like them work with others to make change.
- Peaceful protest is acceptable/lawful, violent protest is not
- There is power in numbers--you can more effectively work for change and betterment when you team with like-minded groups and individuals
- Words matter, use words with as much care as you can
- Critique is essential--be open to critique, learn from the criticism you get
- Revision and reflection are essential. Think on matters. Analyze, asses, and then revise--our world is continually changing and so must our ideas and actions continually change
- Seek the consult of experts in any way you can
- Move ahead with as much peace and positivity as possible
- Be strategic about making change
There are many aspects of making change and doing good that are not as simple:
- No matter who we are or where we come from, our perspectives will always be too narrow--that is why it is essential to work with others, we broaden our perspective that way and better serve others because of that.
- No one has the monopoly on knowledge--there is a lot to know out there. The more you know, the better you will be at making things better. Often we are crippled by our lack of good knowledge. In today's information era, there is no excuse not to be a lifelong learner who commits to always learning more.
- Our past experiences can inhibit our present work. Often the mentors and experiences we've had in the past do not prepare us to be positive change agents in the present. We must unlearn the bad practices, words, and perspectives that make what we think of as good efforts, not-so-good. For example if you grew up in an environment that simply blamed others for the problems that exist without further analyses or strategy, then it's likely you've got a bad habit of blaming rather than using strategic efforts to make change. You have to unlearn that. Analyzing and checking your own shortcomings, then working to improve those mindsets and actions is necessary in order to be a positive and proactive leader.
Trump's leadership has been a grave lesson about what not to do and who not to be. No one has the monopoly on good living and leadership, but we can all easily avoid the Trump's heinous acts and look for mentors who truly give us a leadership style, good work, and positive words to work for. Onward.