Sleeping With Your So-Called Enemy: A Practice of Empathy and Perspective-Taking

How can you deal with the range of emotions that you feel around the current state of political reality?  How can you begin to understand why some people have totally different opinions than you about the most important subjects that face our nation? How can you better understand your political opponents, maybe even love them, while still embracing what you believe in?

Sleeping With Your So-Called Enemy is a practice that suggests a way to step outside of your own political views and into those of your “other,” allowing you to expand your own perspective, be as inclusive as possible, and make the most compassionate decisions in your own life.

Some of you might be thinking: "Why the hell would I want to understand my opponents better?  I can't stand those people!"  First, let's say that you are completely and totally entitled to your opinion, and in some cases, and on some matters, you might actually be right.  They might be less than honest, conniving, or self-interested.  That's for sure.  But we're also guessing that you've felt the emotional roller coaster that comes with following politics.  If you have, then this practice might just help you out with that. 

What would it be like to be in the other person's shoes?  Scary, you might say.  Horrible, awful, soul-sucking, stupid, jerk ass, mo… ok, there's the emotions we're talking about.  The fact is that the other person… well, they are a person too.  And their beliefs are likely just as strong, if not stronger than yours.  In fact, when placed immediately across the table from you, they might have the same kind of charged feelings.  For the most part, people are entitled to their own beliefs and their own way of being in the world.  That's the great thing about this country; our right to have our own set of opinions and beliefs is protected.

So no matter how loud you shout, and no matter how much pain and anger you experience, there will always be people out there who believe differently than you, just as passionately as you do, and as certain in their beliefs as you are.  The shouting you do may not make all that much of a difference, and ultimately, your candidate might not win. The following practice will help you accept this infernal truth.

If you like, you can publicly track your practice here.

(This offering is available to everyone, absolutely free.  Email this presentation to a friend!) 

Other Pieces in This Series:

A Tale of Four Americas: A Brief Summary of an Integral Approach to Politics

A Tale of Four Americas takes a look at the political dynamics and cultural perspectives that influence every part of the Republican and Democratic parties. It explores the ideological divides that exist within each party, and offers a simple map to help make sense of these seemingly conflicting beliefs.

Obama and McCain: Seeing Through the Talking Points

Obama and McCain: Seeing Through the Talking Points lets you watch the Integral political map emerge in real time in the acceptance speeches of Senators McCain and Obama. What is each candidate really saying, and to whom are they speaking?