Politics

Politics is the endeavor to influence others with the intent to lead groups of people, institutions and government.

We join political parties and movements to promote what we believe is good for us and for others. Yet, much criticism is generated in the process. 

Politics has become an ideological battle between many minds fighting to maintain a particular view of what is good and experiencing different views as a threat. Many political groups think they are right, and morally and intellectually superior to other groups. Many believe that the good of life depends on political outcomes, and this is the source of much anxiety.

This chapter is about healing political anxiety with the understanding of the Spiritual View.

This political view of wanting power to get what we want and have what we think will make us happy is the accepted “norm.” And there is never peace as we suffer from either not getting what we want or from fear of losing it when we temporarily have it. This is political anxiety, and it is found in the Personal View.

So how do we escape the anxiety of political conflicts with others and live in harmony? By realizing that we can be peaceful and assured regardless of political views and outcomes.

We need to be the alert gatekeeper of our thoughts which are the mental climate that we live in. The quali­ties of Integrity, goodwill, safety, freedom, assurance, peace, prosperity, clarity and harmony are the qualities of the world we all would like to live in.

They are often invoked in political campaigns and government claims by all parties. But they are forgotten when the self-interest and conditions of politics interfere. Then we are often not governed with the expression of the qualities that we value.

To live in this world we need the Spiritual View of self-governance. With this view we are interested in expressing these valued qualities in our individual lives, families and communities. We rely on our sincere interest in spiritual qualities, not politicians, not government, to lead us to mental freedom and a way to a better life. 

This is the healing of political anxiety with the Spiritual View.