As most people know today, emotional intelligence is a real thing. There are courses that are taught about it and many books have been written about it. It is no longer enough to just be intellectually ‘smart’—it has also become important to be self-aware and to be able to handle our emotions in healthy ways.
What we’re seeing, however, is that there seems to be an increase in world leaders who don’t hold those values in high esteem. Perhaps the US’s most self-aware and emotionally intelligent leader is on his way out of office soon, to be replaced predominantly by men who bully and feel they have a right to behave this way. This is a terribly unhealthy message to send to children especially, who need to be taught the exact opposite. Today, we are seeing a great many more people, both in the US and in Canada where I live, who don’t seem to know how to disagree without being disagreeable—one of the hallmarks of emotional intelligence. For myself and for many others, this feels like a very scary situation.
Is it really possible to have a difference of opinion without having to slam the other guy—physically or verbally?
The US election is now over and Donald Trump has won. Although I wasn’t enamoured of either candidate, for any of you who frequent my personal Facebook page, you know that I’m not a fan of DT. As a dual citizen of the US and Canada, I did vote in this election—for Hillary, who I perceived as being the lesser evil—and who had a sense, at least until the bitterness grabbed hold of her too, of how to disagree without being disagreeable. For that reason, I trusted her more to run what has historically been the world’s most powerful and influential country.
Indeed, I admit to having strong negative feelings about DT, about the man he shows himself to be to the general public, to the unhealthy message he sends. As we all know, he has said many despicable things about many groups of people—and has allegedly done any number of invasive, juvenile, illegal acts toward women. In addition, he has gotten away with treasonous types of behaviours that hopefully he will one day be held accountable for. And since being elected, his divisive, dangerous fearmongering has largely contributed to a marked increase in hate crimes—possibly with more to come. I do not think he is positive material for becoming President of the US—and I don’t believe anything could change my way of thinking about that.
I do understand how this happened, in terms of the unrest in that country—which also reflects the unrest in many other parts of the world—even here in Canada too. And I know there are obviously a great many people who disagree with my thoughts about DT being President, because he was elected. Although I wish that wasn’t the case, I know there is nothing that I—alone—can do about it.
Or is there?
WHEN THEY GO LOW, WE GO HIGH
I loved hearing that from Michelle Obama. I don’t think that happened enough with either candidate, although I often saw DT going very, very low—and he is still doing that. In my opinion, this is just not helpful for any of us to do. For him, I believe it comes from a narcissistic, grandiose need to be The Most Important Person on the Planet—very probably because, in reality, that is not at all how he sees himself at 3 o’clock in the morning—one of his favourite times to disparage others via tweets. I don’t particularly mind that this guy, as a private citizen, has any number of identified and potentially dangerous personality disorders, therefore qualifying him for the condition of “mental illness”—but what I really don’t want to see is a mentally ill person in the role of POTUS.
Needless to say, my opinions and preferences unfortunately no longer have any bearing on what has become the new reality. I just dread the idea of the new normal that comes from our government officials being steeped in hatred toward others. We already have enough of that in the world today.
So what can I do as an individual as I find myself caught up in a situation that brings me dissatisfaction, unfathomable disbelief, and the fear that the world as we’ve known it may never right itself again?
I know that ‘going low’ and being part of the problem is not the way I generally do things. When a situation occurs that could knock me off my centre, I know that I do my best to reach inside myself and find my spiritual place of strength. I know that living in fear and chaos is not what I choose today. I know that I care about how I feel, and that I care about how other people feel too—that is an important value of mine. I know that there are many others who, like me, want to live our best lives despite these extraordinary circumstances we’re now faced with. I know that I will continue to strive to do that.
THE “NEW NORMAL”
The new normal seems to be a society where fearmongering and hate crimes are allowed to run rampant without many consequences, where people can obtain guns easily and women have trouble gaining control over their own bodies. Where people of colour, various religions, and gender diversities have to tread carefully. How could this have happened, what has been unleashed? When I was a teenager, my family lived for two years in the heart of the deep South in a small town in Alabama. Even though we were white, we were ‘yankees’ from New York, not Baptist, and we had friends who were black—so we were persecuted too. I know what that feels like. I thought that was over, that those days were done. But 50 years later, here we are again—same milkshake, different flavour. Will we, for example, be faced with ‘coloured’ water fountains and bathrooms again? Could this really happen?
I’ve often wondered what makes people so terrified of those who are different from themselves. What is that really about? Why do these differences matter so much? Why CAN’T we live in peace, why CAN’T everyone just get along?
And even if we can’t all get along, couldn’t we at least decide to disagree without being disagreeable? Do we feel so badly about ourselves that we have to strive to make others feel badly about themselves too?
As you can see, I definitely don’t have all the answers. Mostly I just have questions. But maybe others who think like I do can practice even more loving kindness in the midst of all this craziness. Maybe we don’t have to all agree about everything—that would lead to a pretty boring world anyway. Maybe we could just role model the idea of disagreeing without being disagreeable—and dangerous—toward each other.
Maybe, as Gandhi so wisely suggested, we who understand the deep importance of living this way could be the change we want to see.
Will you join me?
Angie Podgurny says
Thank you, Candace, for writing about an issue which has been tugging at my heart. What you speak is truthful and insightful as so many of my friends and I have been discussing and trying to come to terms with the ugliness of what is happening in our society. As a woman, grandmother and self appointed advocate for those in need, it truly scares me as to what will happen to the years of work that has brought some sense of humanity to this point. Already in Alberta, we have witnessed the blatant discrimination of women in politics. In public, people appear to have a sense of entitlement by verbally voicing their hurtful opinions.
It is hard to take the higher road at times but,as you state, perhaps by modeling the tenet that it’s acceptable to disagree without hurting we be the change we want to see.
Thanking you again for your monthly thoughts and words of wisdom.
Sincerely,
Angie
Candace Plattor says
Hi Angie, thank you so much for your comment – and for your desire to give back and be of service to others. I know that this blatant disrespect has grown exponentially since DT was elected – it’s true here in BC as well as many other places. Our best hope is to not let the bastards wear us down – and to band together for peace and loving kindness in the face of it.
I wish you all my best with everything you’re doing!
Candace
Barbara Melnyk says
“When they go low, we go high”. I too am comforted by Michelle Obama’s words. The only person any one of us has total control over is our own self. We give ourselves power by choosing how we react to anger, bigotry, bullying, and any action that transmits pain and hurt.Candace, your description of an emotionally intelligent person is at the core of this. More than ever before, we need to spread love and forgiveness; to “be the change we want to see”. It is hard work, because as humans we are wired with “fight or flight” mechanisms! But, there is a light shining within – capture it, hold on to it, and let it shine forth. Let us think of ourselves as lighthouses, shining out in a world that has become very dark and foggy! Shine on! Remember, this too shall pass. ???
Candace Plattor says
Hi Barbara – it was great to hear your thoughts. Yes, I agree – we need to not use our ‘fight or flight’ mechanism here. We need to stand up for what we believe and not roll over to this negativity and ugliness. We have a choice about how to respond, each of us in our own way. Let’s continue to ‘go high’ when faced with the lack of emotional intelligence that we’re beginning to see on way more levels than we thought existed.
Candace