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I went for a solo run in the woods. It’s the only way I can quiet my mind. I bumped into people I know. It’s a small town, and I’m not the only one who finds comfort in the trees. Everyone I met expressed outrage, fear, and sadness, but I was trying to push beyond that, and they weren’t letting me do so. Am I being too privileged? Is this a luxury others can’t afford? No. I just think those feelings aren’t useful.
Well, let me clarify. Outrage and fear are useful as the first steps to becoming useful. Without anger and fear, there is little motivation to do anything.
The pitfall is overwhelm or helplessness.
I kept running. As I approached an intersection and contemplated the long or short route, I decided then and there that I needed to find hope in my helplessness. So many people aren’t going to be okay. I worry about them, the environment, the very woods I run in, the snow levels, the animals—everything. It can spiral out pretty fast if I let myself go there, but it’s not useful.
There has to be something I can do. Look for the helpers, they say. Be part of the solution.
Tom Nichols, The Atlantic
Today felt like a good day for the long route. I don’t have answers yet.
In the anger, there is a certain glee, even satisfaction, in putting down those who disagree with us. Righteousness feels good, doesn’t it? I wonder if there is hypocrisy in the name-calling and stereotyping of those who disagree with us. Is it just as bad as those who judge people by their sexual orientation and skin color?
If, instead, we tried to understand those we disagree with, we might find, as hard as it might be to imagine, that we are not that far apart. We simply aren’t aware of other drivers in play (on their end).
From the storyteller perspective, it comes down to connection – connection to problems and connection to individuals.
I neared my car parked at the trailhead.
I thought about how stories shape our perspective at a young age. George Lakoff said that humans make decisions based on those perspectives. When presented with facts and data, we reject or accept that information based on what is true in our world, not necessarily what makes factual sense. (Moral Politics: How Liberals and Conservatives Think)
While stories divide us, could we instead focus on how stories move us to useful action and unite us?
Christian liberal John Pavlovitz said it’s ok to end relationships over politics. I don’t think that’s useful. How will we move forward so divided? I’d instead get curious and listen. It’s the part of storytelling we don’t often talk about. The most powerful stories start with powerful questions. Powerful things can happen when we get to know each other. Easier said than done. I know.
It’s really our only choice. Righteous rants and gleeful gloating won’t work.
Take care out there.
PS. Get your stories together! November, December, and January are perfect times to prepare for 2025 with my Storycoaching program. I have only a few openings for this one-to-one engagement that lasts three months.
If you are a senior or emerging leader, entrepreneur, or technical and service professional, this is a great opportunity to get an outside perspective and to craft a stable of 3 to 5 stories you can use in your upcoming presentations or meetings. Comment below or contact me if interested, and I can send you the details.
SOME WAYS I MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU AND YOUR TEAM:
LEAD YOUR WAY: This mentoring/coaching program is designed to help you step into your leadership and show up as your best self so you can communicate to connect and amplify your impact.
COMMUNICATE TO CONNECT: In my storytelling workshops, I teach leaders of all capabilities how to engage authentically with their teams, community, and stakeholders to create meaningful connections that build trust, increase team engagement and lead to better fundraising and revenue generation.
Did you have something else in mind? Let’s talk and see how I might be able to help. Contact me and we’ll schedule a chat.
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