How and Why to Stop Being
So Angry at Politicians
by www.Sedona.com “Man is by nature a political animal.”
--Aristotle With the 2008 elections continuing to heat up, and candidates beginning their campaigns earlier than ever, many Americans are embroiled in the political rat-race. As early as March 2007, some 48 percent of Americans said they had already given “quite a lot” of thought to the upcoming elections, according to a Gallup Poll. What’s wrong with being involved in politics? Nothing. Americans should participate in their government, hold politicians accountable for wrongdoings and be involved in the entire political process. However, so many people, Americans especially (and on both sides of the spectrum), have become ravenously mad at politicians, the “other side,” and the way the country is run in general. It’s at this point when a healthy involvement in the political system can turn into a proverbial thorn in your side. In fact, a 2006 CNN poll found that most Americans (76 percent) believed there was “something” to be angry about when it comes to how the country is run, and another 25 percent said they thought things in the United States were going “badly.” (Another 29 percent said they were going “pretty badly.”) Why Being Angry Will Not Help the Cause You may feel so passionate about your political views that you are willing to challenge anyone, to do whatever it takes, to get others to see things your way. If they don’t see things your way your passion gives way to intense anger or rage. This mentality of feeling like politics is a battle that you must win is actually driving you further from your cause, says Hale Dwoskin, CEO and director of training of Sedona Training Associates. “When we feel like we must win or must have our point of view prevail we cause a lot of unnecessary stress; and we also create resistance around us to our point of view,” he says. If you continue to hold onto your angry feelings about politics, you can actually become blinded by your anger and end up turning potential allies into foes. Letting go of Anger – While Staying Passionate About Your Cause No matter what your political beliefs, the best way to support your candidate is in a positive respect. This means doing what you can to get your views heard, while letting go of the feeling that you “must win or else.” “Life is not a battle unless you make it so,” Dwoskin says. “When you focus on win/win, as opposed to win/lose, you find that everyone comes out on top.” How can you release the self-limiting feeling that your candidate must win or your views must prevail? The Sedona Method, a simple tool that teaches you how to let go of any negative emotion in the moment, can help. When you release your anger and rage with the Method, you will actually find that you’re able to become more involved with your cause and that people respect your viewpoints more. In other words, you’ll be more likely to get what it is you wanted in the first place. “Do whatever you can to support the candidate or cause of your choice, and at the same time do your best to let go of the attachment to the outcome of your efforts or the process,” Dwoskin says. “When we let go of the attachment we perform better and feel better and are more likely to succeed.”
Sources
The Gallup Poll
CNN.com
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