So what does voting have to do with personal development?
Some of you are nervous right now. Or groaning. You hate and / or are sick of politics. I get it. Don’t worry, I’m not going to mention any candidate or party. I have family, friends, and readers across the political spectrum. My purpose is not to get on a soapbox for a particular agenda.
I bring up voting because I believe personal development is about committing myself to a certain set of practices that provide a better life for me and others. It’s recognizing that my choices and actions impact not only my quality of my life but that of others as well.
For my American readers, the upcoming Nov 3 election is an example of how our personal decisions will have genuine consequences for real people in this country and, by extension, around the world. Our decision whether or not to vote, and the party and people we choose to support, will be a stone thrown into our societal pond, sending ripples far and wide.
So how do we make such an important decision? It’s common to vote based on the party of our parents, the one we were raised to believe was the “good one.” Some of us are “one issue” voters, be that issue abortion, supreme court nominees, immigration, tax policy, the environment, racial justice, fill in the blank. Whoever agrees with us on that one issue gets our vote. Others vote based on a desire for change or who they’d rather have a beer with or a candidate’s platform or experience. There are pros and cons to many different voting criteria. So how do you choose?
Here’s my suggestion in this highly important election. Step back from both parties, from specific issues, and from individual people. Think about the kind of person you want to be. What values and characteristics do you want to define you? Then widen your gaze. What values and characteristics do you want to define our society? Which ones do you truly believe lead to human flourishing? Let your answers to those questions be your guide in this election. Not how you’ve voted in the past. Not how your family votes. Not what your friends are pressuring you to do.
For me, the values and characteristics I want for both myself and our country include honesty. Humility. Empathy. Love. Compassion. Sincerity. Truth. Grace. Maturity. Competency. Discretion. Wisdom. Inclusion. Unity. Self-sacrifice. Decency. Respect. Equality. Generosity. Honor.
I often fail to live up to that list. There are no perfect candidates or political parties because there are no perfect people. That said, I’m going to vote for people I believe best exhibit those characteristics personally and who advocate for policies that seek to elevate those values for all of us.
What values would make your list? What characteristics do you want to describe yourself? Our society? Step back. Listen openly. Think carefully. Vote honestly and soberly. If you do, you’ll help positively shape our collective future and take another step toward Becoming Yourself.
I originally published this post in August of 2019, but given everything that 2020 has thrown at us so far, I found it coming back to my mind. My deep wish is that it helps you find hope in these troubled times.
What is it about hope that has such a profound impact on us? There are a lot of emotional experiences we desire like love, joy, and peace. What makes hope so important?
1. CASUAL HOPES – these are our day to day, common hopes. I hope my favorite team makes the playoffs. I hope this restaurant has cheesecake. I hope I can see my friends Friday night. These hopes we readily acknowledge to ourselves and others.
3.
1. We need to keep our hopes in their PROPER PLACE – all of those hopes listed above are normal and healthy. But if we allow a casual hope, like our favorite team making the playoffs, to become a precious hope, we’re headed for trouble. If your team being edged out of the post-season puts you in a deep depression, that’s a clear sign that you’ve allowed a casual hope to slip out of its proper place. The same is true with a precious hope becoming an ultimate one. I have a precious hope that my adult children will continue to make good choices. That said, whether they do or don’t will not determine my self-worth or my sense of my life having meaning.
2. We need to anchor our ultimate hopes in SOMETHING WORTHY – we choose where we place our hopes. For our casual hopes, choosing which restaurant to go to is not a big deal. For our precious hopes, choosing which doctor to trust with analyzing our biopsy results is more significant. We want to have confidence in the worthiness our choice. Then there are ultimate hopes. I believe that where we choose to anchor our ultimate hopes is one of the most important decisions we will ever make. Choosing a worthy place to rest them is critical to becoming our True Selves, avoiding unnecessary pain, and enjoying the fullest experience of life.
For me, the most worthy anchor for my ultimate hopes is my relationship with God. God fulfills my hopes for lasting meaning, for being deeply valued for who I am, and for a positive future beyond this life.
As I shared in a recent post (
So in honor of that somewhat radical idea, I’m giving you an opportunity to laugh today. Instead of reading more of my words, I encourage you to read those of a traveler who many years ago had a comically bad day and was banned from a hotel. He got the ban lifted through owning his mistakes with humility and humor. You can read his story 
So whatever it is that tickles your funny bone – streaming a favorite sitcom, reading the comics, or watching wipeout videos on Youtube – schedule some laughter into your daily routine. If you do, you’ll take another happy step toward Becoming Yourself.