How to Redirect Anger at Politicians to Beneficial Actions
by www.Sedona.com
When Gallup polls asked over 800 Americans whether they have confidence in Congress, only 12 percent responded favorably. This is the worst rating any institution has received since Gallup began asking the question 35 years ago.
Meanwhile, only 26 percent of people said they had “a great deal” or “quite a lot of confidence” in the Presidency -- a 26 percent drop since 2004.
So to say that many people are harboring anger at U.S. politicians is an understatement.
But whether your anger and frustration is justified or not, holding on to these negative feelings will not help your cause.
“When you feel like your point of view must prevail you cause a lot of unnecessary stress; and you also create resistance to your point of view,” says Hale Dwoskin, CEO and director of training of Sedona Training Associates.
In other words, if you are so wrapped up in how mad you are about a certain political issue, you will be sending out feelings of anger to the people around you. The natural response to anger is to resist it or retreat from it, which means that not only has your point not been made, but you may have pushed people further away from it.
“When you are angry and frustrated with a politician or the political process, there is a choice to be made,” Dwoskin says. “You can stay reactive and contribute to the problem and the same energy that you are opposing -- or you can let go and be for the solution as opposed to against the problem.”
Notice how just rephrasing your intentions makes a positive difference. If you are “against the problem” it evokes images of a battle that must be won or lost. However, being “for the solution” is a proactive, positive message that you are working toward something.
To get to this positive place, even when you’re thinking about a heated political issue, use The Sedona Method and let go of your anger.
“When you let go and are for the solution you stay engaged in the political process,” Dwoskin says. “At the same time you do not waste time railing against the things you cannot change. Instead, you take proactive actions to change the things that you can do something about.”
Source
Gallup.com June 20, 2008
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