It’s almost depressing to think about today’s times as it seems things are unraveling. We have the Russia/Ukraine War, the tension between China and Taiwan, terrorist groups gaining power, the rise of domestic violence, and people, in general, seem angry. So, many political issues are at the forefront, too, abortion, election credibility, the right to bear arms, freedom of speech, border security, drugs, etc.  

Everyone has their opinion when it comes to all these things developing around us. Back in the day, most of these opinions weren’t talked about in public settings. Today that is not the case. This phenomenon is what is creating this inside tension for most people. I always refrain from speaking personal opinions in public, especially not knowing what someone else’s opinion is. I find it to be a respectful thing to do.

I’m puzzled why people need to express their viewpoints using violence and hate speech. It only escalates tension. We will never find common ground if we can’t learn to respect each other. Use the Golden Rule:  treat others the same way you want to be treated. Moving forward starts with each of us. 

I never thought I would be living in such troubled times. I find myself somedays to be frustrated too. We all want our voices to be recognized and our opinions valued.  I believe in sitting back and listening and applying the 80/20 rule. I do 80% listening and 20% talking. Collaboration with people is key to solving problems effectively and developing new ideas. We must remind ourselves that everyone is entitled to their opinion. God made us all different for a reason. Viewpoints stem from individual life experiences, genetics, environments, skill sets, etc.

I hear people say; I just can’t “people” anymore. Wow! I don’t know about you, but I find that disturbing. People today don’t know how to interact because we are slowly retracting ourselves. Direct communication is drastically declining with the rise of people wanting to isolate themselves from the world because it is easier than facing it. Especially right now, people prefer working from home versus in a physical environment. It is convenient, I get it, but it’s not what’s best for us long-term. 

We need to self-regulate our emotions; otherwise, we will all be mentally exhausted, frustrated, and angry. Realize we can’t control what goes on around us, but we can control how we deal with it. Be the change you want to see in the world – Mahatma Gandhi. This quote stops us from judging and complaining about others and stirs us to take action within ourselves.