Election Day is around the corner. No one knows what will happen, but one thing is for sure: emotions will be running high. 

Everything around us may demand we pick a side, but now more than ever, unity is needed. Healing our deep political divide will not be easy, but every one of us plays a part. This is the only way we can move forward as a country, as a human family.

How divided are we?

Sadly, we are more divided than ever. According to the Pew Research Center:

  • 44% of Democrats view the Republican Party very unfavorably
  • 45% of Republicans view the Democratic Party very unfavorably

It wasn’t always like this. In 1994, for example, fewer than 20% in both parties viewed the opposing party very unfavorably.

What changed?

For one, our access to the internet. As we’ve written before:

The Information Age is in full bloom, and those with the resources to drive our media and social media platforms stream their narratives 24/7, choosing which videos to show or not show, which statements to highlight or ignore, which experts to interview or discredit, always the ones that suit their narrative, always doing all they can to influence us. Objective news is dead, and we are left to gravitate towards the stations that our individual worldviews resonate with. Many of us have followed our leaders and media into two deeply divided camps; the U.S. hasn’t been so divided since the Civil War.

Interestingly, studies have found that hot-button issues (i.e. abortion, immigration, the economy) are not the biggest dividers between people. In fact, Americans overestimate the gap in policy preferences between the two parties. 

The bigger divider is actually political labels. By identifying as conservative or liberal, people are more likely to see themselves on a team that is inherently opposed to the other team.

What can I do?

First, remember our common humanity. When it comes to politics, discuss issues not labels. We will always have differences, but they can be respected instead of feared. Listen; don’t react. Respond to anger and violence with love and understanding.

An easy way to get started is with the Just Like Me compassion practice, a guided visualization that “invites us to look at how we are similar in important ways.”

Simply think about someone in your life that you want to understand better, whether your closest friend, a challenging political figure, or someone in between.

Next, imagine that person standing before you. Silently or out loud, try to come up with all the ways that this person is like you. You may be shocked at how many there are. For example:

  • This person is passionate, just like me. 
  • This person cares for their loved ones, just like me. 
  • This person wants their voice to be heard, just like me. 
  • This person hopes to make a difference, just like me. 
  • This person faces challenges, just like me.

See? We’re not so different after all.

Thanks for doing the work. This work on oneself is the key to transformation. If we want to heal our world, we must start at home. It’s very hard. It requires effort over time. But the rewards are extraordinary. Let’s roll people.