Do Good, Ending Demonization is Not Enough

As NYTimes Columnist Michele Goldberg predicted, “…America (did) jettison its leader…” “But…” as she noted, “…a President Joe Biden won’t be able to simply pick up America’s role…” In a similar way we cannot go back to how we were. We have to do better. President Elect Biden followed this trend indicating that ending demonization was not enough

How do we do better? Where do we go now: CHAOS OR COMMUNITY?

In my bias view of the mandates, the Mandate to build community requires us to Practice Paneugenesis to generate comprehensive improvements by creating pervasive, reciprocal, selfish, selfless, synergistic, interactions so everyone and everything benefits. We can start by doing as President Elect Biden suggested and give each other a chance by listening. This is great and I suggest you take it a step further when talking with others that have different perspectives and search for how they are similar to you rather than how they differ. This is more likely if instead of thinking it must be your way or their way, develop a better way. (For ideas see We Need to Use the 3rd Alternative)

These ideas were driven home to me by a thought provoking “Freakonomics” Podcast where Steven Dubner interviewed Whole Foods CEO John Mackay. The interview with Mr. Mackay was great and a few comments that he says he has learned over the years seemed especially good to me. One comment that stood out was when he explained that one side does not have all the answers, supporting the need for a better way rather than your way or their way. Further he suggested he aims for a win-win-win outcome so he does better, the other party does better and the environment does better. It seems he practices this and the win-win-win philosophy is a driving force behind “Whole Foods”. This win-win-win idea is also what drives my push for Selfish, Selfless, Synergy where I benefit, you benefit and the world benefits. #SelfishSelflessSynergy.

This election season should remind us that -We the people- have the power to build a better future. One way I try to do this is represented on a T-shirt I bought from the Kind coffee house in Colorado. The shirt says, “Make America Kind Again”. I think this is something we can all agree is important and valued. We also can understand how being kind is something we can all contribute toward accomplishing.

Please share how you can be kind to create win-win-win, selfish, selfless, synergistic interactions by creating pervasive, reciprocal beneficial interactions so everyone and everything benefits.

Be Well’r,