While it's only February, it seems like we have been living with the drama of the 2016 election for quite some time now.
Elections put people in the spotlight; pasts are exposed, character is tested and true knowledge is put to the test. With this year being a major election year I would like to pose a question: How would you act if you were up for election? Chances are, you'd make some major adjustments in order to earn your votes.
I am not necessarily saying that the candidates running in the 2016 election are doing these things. Rather, it is a reflection on how we, as common individuals, would act in the spotlight while relying on votes.
Elections are based on votes. Votes are based on people. People HAVE to like you, invest in you and believe in you in order for them to give you their vote. If you were running in the election this year, chances are good that you would:
1. Have reason behind your beliefs.
This would eliminate doing things because "that's how your parents did them." If we were all under the media spotlight, we would be forced to develop knowledge-based reasoning for all of our beliefs. We would need to be informed and have the ability to explain WHY we believe something. This is harder than it looks; think about how you feel about issues such as recreational marijuana and health care. Why do you feel the way you do? Is it because everyone around you feels that way, or have you spent time thinking about your reasoning? Do you even understand the issues? Being in heat of an election would force us to develop reason.
2. Speak as if everyone was listening.
If you were up for election this year, chances are you would not say half of the things you say now. Even the most extreme candidates have to put on a pretty hefty filter when they speak. Thinking before you speak is a wonderful way to come across as more intelligent and avoid costly mistakes. We often speak irrationally when stressed or upset, but if our future depended on the public's view of us, chances are we would plan our responses with more intelligence and intention.
3. Act as if everyone was watching.
You probably wouldn't flip the guy off at the four-way-stop in your neighborhood if you were running for president in November. We often act irrationally or inappropriately because we feel that there will be no repercussions. If we were in the public eye, longing for the public's acceptance and support, we would act with a far greater sense of kindness. We would complete actions with mindfulness and with our supporters in mind, rather than acting based on impulse or emotion.
4. Make others feel important.
If you were running for president you'd need to get as many people on your side as possible. We often see candidates visiting potential supporters in their towns or at their place of employment, connecting with them on issues that are important in their lives. Making others feel important is something that takes time, effort and a genuine sense of care; but it is amazing what can happen when someone feels like you're paying attention to him or her.
5. Make decisions as if your grandma will read them in the newspaper one day.
So you aren't running in the 2016 election, but you know you want to run in an election in the future. Chances are you'll act morally along the way. If we lived as if we were being elected in the future, we would be more conscious of the decisions we are making today and how those decisions will look down the road. Little things in the past can add up quickly, especially when those things have to do with your character. Don't do anything you wouldn't want your grandma seeing on the front page of the paper.
6. Be careful which bridges you burn.
Issues arise and that is life. How you handle issues is what people will always remember. If you were living knowing that every vote mattered, you'd most likely master the first impression you give people. In addition, you would understand that your last impression is equally as important as your first. Burning bridges can be detrimental. You never know what connections you'll make and which will come in handy down the road. In the election spotlight, you'd try to handle conflict with grace and purpose.
While it is important to stay genuine to who you are, I strongly believe that if we all acted as if we were in the political spotlight, our decisions and actions would include more mindfulness, intention and purpose.
