One Choice You *Can* Make
What if…we stand at the threshold of civil strife unlike anything we’ve seen. What if…the civil war has already begun. What if…each of us…Right and Left…is arming ourselves with our most lethal weapon. Pipe bombs, zip ties, mob incitation, verbal slights, character attacks, dismissive rhetoric, hardened hearts, closed minds, final judgements rendered. Death to the other side the desired option — be it physical, political, or social.
What if I have already made the choice to storm the inviolable capitol of human dignity and respect. What if, right now, right where I stand, I’m storming the one truly sacred home of a healthy, vibrant democracy…the human heart.
What if I could make a different choice? In each and every moment. To fight no less passionately for truth, without anger, hate or malice. To fight in a way that embodies the principles of democracy I seek to uphold. To fight with love for country, love for myself, and love for the inherent dignity of all people and places.
What if the anger I feel comes from a fear that I have no choice. That even if I did, it wouldn’t make a difference. That I’m unseen, unheard, unworthy.
What if each and every one of my actions truly mattered? What becomes possible then? Every choice, however small, starts a new story.
#yourleadershipmoment #democratizingleadership
Eric Martin is the Author of Your Leadership Moment | Democratizing Leadership in an Age of Authoritarianism. He is also Managing Director of Adaptive Change Advisors (ACA), the preeminent organization for mission-driven Adaptive Leadership development.
