Does Spirituality Affect Politics?

YES—when we become self-aware, everything changes! To be a spiritual person simply means that we are aware of something greater dwelling within us. The word spirit comes from the Latin word for “breath” and means that which animates life. To be ‘spiritual’ means that we recognize, accept, and allow this life force to guide us during this Game of Life. When we awaken to this truth, we don’t become less human, we become fully human! This is the purpose of life—to remember and reconnect with our Better Half. To become conscious players in this Game. How does this affect our politics? Please let me explain…

Although I’m optimistic in these turbulent times, I do feel a sense of urgency. We need more awakened beings on this planet NOW—preferably before election day. Why? Because when we awaken to our True Nature, we begin to remember our oneness. We naturally develop a sense of knowing that this life force not only animates every cell in my body but also flows through all of creation. This is what connects us all! And when we begin to see ourselves in the eyes of the so-called ‘others’, the world will quickly change.

In a nutshell, before awakening, we live like small, scared, frantic little beings—feeling separate and alone. We exclusively identified with form and the material world. This is the illusion of separation—the root cause of all pain and suffering. This dream state causes anxiety, fear, and worry which inevitably leads us to this polarized world we find ourselves living in today.

Let me be clear, awakening does not mean life will be all ‘rainbows and butterflies.’ There will always be challenges and disagreements on this adventure. As the psychologist B.F. Skinner taught, “man is the sum of his learned experiences.” Since we all have had our own unique experiences in life, we should expect a wide variety of opinions. This will not change. However, how we react to these differences will dramatically change. A sense of civility will return to our debates. This should be a healthy process. This is how we evolve and grow.

I found a great definition of civility which I would like to share: “Claiming and caring for one’s identity, needs, and beliefs without degrading someone else’s in the process. It’s about disagreeing without disrespecting. To seek common ground as a starting point for dialogue about our difference. Civility is the hard work of staying present even when we have deep rooted disagreement.” This came from The Institute for Civility in Government. WOW—bravo!

In summary, I would like to share the 5 Simple Questions we all need to ask before casting our votes this year. I believe these qualities are necessary for effective leadership. Please, try to read these questions with an open mind and answer them with an open heart😊.

1. Which candidate most displays honesty and integrity?

In my research, I have found this leadership quality to be #1 on most lists. For obvious reasons, character is very important. To be trusted to do the right thing (even when nobody’s watching) is critical. To be transparent and lead by example.

2. Which candidate portrays a sense of humility?

It goes without saying––being a leader is hard. Mistakes will be made. Being humble is extremely important. Great leaders admit when they are wrong and see these challenges as opportunities for growth.

3. Which candidate proves to have a high emotional intelligence?

Effective leaders do not allow emotions to influence their decision making. Controlling emotions eliminates hasty decisions, which are never good at this level of leadership. Emotionally intelligent leaders are excellent at conflict resolution.

4. Which candidate will demonstrate transparency?

Being transparent is the best way to gain trust. Sharing information builds confidence for your vision.

5. Which candidate will practice civility?

To be civil, one must care for the beliefs of their followers without degrading others in the process. It’s about disagreeing without disrespecting. Effective leaders look for common ground as a starting point to begin conversations. This is a quality admired in all great leaders.

Thanks for participating in this exercise. Going through this process helped me quiet the noise intended to distract us from what’s really important. This isn’t rocket science. We have all the answers within.

Become a Conscious Player—a Conscious Voter! Let your voice be heard.

Visit www.vote.org to learn everything you need to vote (check your registration, register to vote, see what’s on your ballot, see voting options in your state, etc.). This is also a great resource for those impacted by this year’s natural disasters. You may have additional options to vote.

Please share this article. I believe this election will prove to be the most important in our Country’s history.

With love,

Craig

Written by Craig Kolavo, Author of AWAKEN the Sleeping Giant and founder of AwesOm Life. Learn more at www.AwesOmLife.com .