Othering—when we organize information based on “us” vs. “them”. Defining ourselves or our power based on who we identify as the enemy, is simplistic and dangerous, especially in the presence of strong emotions. When we lose sight of our humanity (or the fellow humans we meet along the way), we miss the global reminders that we are made of the same stuff, and that we’re in it together. Don’t turn on each other now! This is when we need to dig deep into our compassion, so we may see our differences as the brilliant colors of our rich tapestry and the source of our greatest power. We are the Human Race.

Misinformation—why is it that the people who seem to understand the least, express it the loudest (and with the worst grammar)?! Repeating a mistake gives it power, and the more familiar something feels, the more likely we are to choose it, even if it’s not good for us. Knowingly saturating the media with mind-numbing blather and outright lies, is playing dirty on a whole new level. Because if we don’t know what real, everything loses meaning, and that crushes our will. When the rhetoric is poisoned with distractions that alter out relationship with Truth, it can devastate entire societies from the inside out.

Manipulation—intentionally misleading someone when they trust you to have their well-being in mind is equivalent to gaslighting (the most serious form of psychological abuse imaginable). Manipulation doesn’t just destroy trust between individuals, it also damages the core Self and one’s ability to trust their own mind. When people are being systematically manipulated, cheated, gaslighted and then neglected, it actually chips away at the very fiber of our society. Taking advantage of vulnerability for personal gain is the lowest form of life.

Fear—Somewhere in my travels , I heard that “The opposite of Love is not hate…FEAR is the F-word at the root of all our darkness.” Once again, it comes down to safety. I don’t know about anyone else, but I haven’t felt safe in this world for quite some time, and it’s really hard to find healing in a hostile environment. Just remember it’s on the same continuing as Love, so as the anxiety and uncertainly of these times triggers the strongest reaction, we might try to remember that even the strongest feelings are simply the mind’s way of processing all this change and loss.

Greed—will certainly kill us all. When we get stuck in a scarcity mindset, nothing ever feels like enough. When the panic of not having enough (or the illusion that we will run out) becomes the driving force, it can overshadow common sense and humanity.

Ignorance—especially willful ignorance, infuriates me and renders my compassion helpless. “I believe what I believe, you can’t change my mind, and I don’t want to hear about facts” is the most incredible waste of life-force imaginable. While I can understand the function resisting hard truths, stubbornly protecting stupidity, to the detriment of one’s self and everyone around them… We’ve got no time for that, ya dummies!!

Confirmation bias—once we are emotionally attached to an idea, we only accept information that supports what we already “know”. An unwillingness to change one’s mind, because they only see what they want to see, and disregard anything that may call their illusion into question. Without critical thinking, spirited discourse, deep research and well-spoken intellectuals on both sides, how will we ever be better?

Anger—it can spread like a wildfire and cause as much destruction in its wake. Because it is often used to inflict pain, anger gets a bad rap, but when handled with compassion and care, we may find that it a powerful defender or protector of our deepest fears and insecurities. Once realized for its potential, anger can actually be a very strong motivator for change.

Nationalism—inseparable from the desire for power, scary, and dangerous because it masquerades as patriotism. Unfortunately, it gets embedded though the manipulation of pride and factual information. In this country, it would seem nationalism has been simmering just below the surface fueled by the anger and disillusionment of so many for long, that I fear has led to a lot of the O.M.F.G.I.C. and A. we see playing out today. If it takes 7 generations to heal from collective trauma, based on our current injuries, it seems we have a long road to recovery ahead of us.

Therapeutic Laughter—it’s a good thing, in these difficult and uncertain times, that we have the ability to laugh. Jokes about the absurdity of the world, laughing instead of crying over our losses, and even dark humor to diffuse some of the tension, all have their place in the process. Sometimes, when we are at our worst, we have to be intentional about getting a healthy D.O.S.E (dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins) but what I’ve seen from our community of shut-ins, for better and for sometimes worse, is that we are staying resilient by sharing our hearts and humor, so the longer this virus hangs around, the more creative we can become. It’s inspiring to see-hee-hee, and it’s how I know everything is going to be alright. Not neat and clean, not pretty or graceful, but we will emerge with new wisdom and a higher vibrational life-force, as we find ourselves learning to rise above. Laughing all the way.

Stay safe, healthy, and socially responsible out (in) there! It’s never too late to be kind, and if you find the courage to question your own reality, you may find something better on the other side.