I've been contemplating our collective response to the pandemic, 4 years ago, as I can see the disharmony starting to arise again because of the coming 2024 US elections. It's clear that during the pandemic, we were navigating through the spectrum of 'fight or flight.' People fall into distinct categories:
Fight: Those delving into every detail, craving the truth, and sharing their findings passionately.
Flight: Individuals seeking solace in their own worlds of peace, joy, and humour, sharing memes and light-hearted content.
Ambivalent: The ones intrigued by the situation but maintaining a calm, go-with-the-flow stance, avoiding unnecessary stress.
Cognitive Dissonance:Those experiencing a clash between fight and flight, resulting in stress and anxiety as they reconcile conflicting emotions.
Understanding these varied reactions is crucial to understanding the type of person we are and where our limitations may be. No emotion is inherently wrong. Emotions intensify differently in every person, so it's essential to respect diversity of opinion rather than engaging in pointless conflicts. Disharmony arises when people lash out at opposing views. The pandemic was one example and the US election is swiftly following suit.
Personally, I have changed since the pandemic. Back then, I aligned with the 'fight' emotion; driven to seek truth and challenge what I perceived as wrong. 4 years down the line, I have more of a ‘flight’ and what will be will be attitude. It doesn't mean I don't have opinions or that I don't care about the outcomes. That's far from the truth. What is important for me these days, which I think arises from my traumatic past, is that peace always remains consistent within me and my life, not matter the circumstances. It has taken a lot of spiritual and healing work to get to this point and I'm nowhere near where I want to be.
We are all inherently different and evolving as individuals on a daily basis. The frustration arises from the challenge of bridging understanding gaps.
In times of stress, it's counterproductive to lash out. It's already starting to heat up again on social media. Instead of being tempted to respond with our viewpoint, perhaps consider unfollowing or ignoring posts that bother you. Lashing out brings stress to you and hurt to the other person. If we are going to bring back peace into this world, it starts with us as individuals.
Take, for instance, my friend and I with drastically different views. We've mastered the art of knowing when to divert conversations, preserving our friendship's respect. Let’s cherish our relationships, acknowledging diverse opinions without jeopardising connections.
I'm not a psychologist, just someone striving to infuse peace and harmony into a messed up world. We only have each other, so let’s stand united, supporting each other instead of fighting against one another.
Peace, love, and the soothing magic of music! 🎵✌️