How You Can Stop Polarization from Destroying Your Life
It is simple, effective, and freeing.
We live in a world where everything seems to be polarizing. Many people can’t sleep. They are constantly upset. They are contributing to the problems. Here’s how you can find the off ramp.
A few minutes ago, I read an article that a friend had reposted. The final line was, “You can’t hate Republicans enough.” I’ve read similar articles that end with “You can’t hate Democrats enough.”
Hate is not good for you. Stop reading things that tell you to hate. It is interesting that the haters are in the extreme positions. They are trying to pull us apart.
Look for truth. What is the evidence? Often the evidence is something that you expect to see. Your brain is already framed to believe it. If I look at articles as a scientist, I look at the claims and the actual data to support the claims.
For example, a claim was made that Trump is opening pristine areas for copper mining that were previously off limits. The article also claimed that Teddy Roosevelt had the foresight to make areas parks. Both statements are true. The author wants us to believe that Trump opened up parks that Roosevelt set aside for mining. That is a propaganda technique. Propagandists put ideas in close proximity so that our brains will link them together. Research showed me that the area Trump opened up had been part of Biden’s set aside. You may disagree with Trump’s decision. However, I find that realizing that he countered a policy Biden created a few years ago feels different than thinking he countered Teddy Roosevelt.
Why would Trump do that? An immediate answer for some is to enrich the wealthy. An immediate answer for others is to provide copper for Americans and ensure that we are not dependent on other nations.
A few years ago, an electrician said that he was investing in copper. He reasoned that EVs require a lot of copper to manufacture. Charging stations also require a lot of copper. Where will we get all the copper we need? The electrician was investing in China.
By looking at a bigger picture, you can ask questions that take you out of the extreme positions. You become a thinker instead of being controlled by your programming.
I was talking with one of my brothers-in-law a few days ago. He said that he can watch news and then watch some other news and find them contradictory. He said, “I don’t know what to believe.”
That is another opening to pull you out of a polar position. I’ve already mentioned questioning. If you start by realizing that you don’t know what to believe, you take the emotional charge off of it. Start looking for news outlets that tell the truth. I do that by comparing what I’m being told will happen in the future to what actually happens.
For example, a friend shared an article on a Friday during the last election. The article said that Biden would step out of the race for President on Sunday. At the same time, other news sources were all reporting that Biden was sharp as a tack. I just waited. Which news outlet was more trustworthy? We all know the result.
I didn’t get emotional about either side. I just took a wait and see approach. I continue to compare what news says is going to happen to what actually happens.
A similar story is developing over the continued January 6 hearings. What ultimately will happen? I’m waiting to see.
I have spoken with people who were investigated by the Biden administration. First person accounts aren’t news.
Pressure to control free speech during the Biden administration has been admitted by Facebook and Google. I have friends who were spelling words with symbols to keep from being targeted by algorithms. Fortunately, free speech has been restored.
Now we can weigh speech based on evidence without the hand of government tipping the scales in the background.
Realize that we all evaluate our environment based on what we expect to see. Become self-aware. Ask what if I’m wrong? Look for contradictions. Connect the dots. Wait for more information and recognize when people are proven wrong.
Those simple techniques can help you sleep better and help the world become a better place.