All my life, I’ve questioned a lot of things. Whether I was at home, at work or in social situations, I was always asking questions or questioning the status quo.
When I was in 5thgrade, the boys and girls were separated for a short session on our changing bodies and how babies were born.
When I got home, I asked my mom, “How many times did you and Dad do it before I was born?”
When I went into sales, my boss once said to me, “Why do you keep asking me all those questions?” Years later, my 16-year-old son said, “Mom, will you quit asking me all those questions?”
So clearly, I’m a person of questionable character. (Note: Maybe you should stop reading at this point.)
Right now, I’m questioning a lot of the political assumptions that are “out there” these days. Things like:
- We’re hopelessly divided as a nation.
- They (insert political party) will ruin the nation if they get in power.
- “Only I can fix it.”
- There’s no way we can come together.
We need to stop buying into this doomsday thinking. It creates fear, anxiety, and dread which—as research shows—makes our brain freeze. We get stuck in downward spiral, unable to think about creating a better future.
What we really need to do is start asking questions like these:
- What do we have in common?
- How can we bring people together to solve the challenges we’re facing?
- What’s possible if we pool our ideas and resources?
These types of questions open us up to new ways of thinking. We stop condemning the “others.” We see that positive options are possible.
So, you see, questions really are the answer. I hope you’ll join me in asking questions that get us working together. Our future depends on it!
Want to improve trust in local and national elections?
Living Room Conversations has developed an excellent guide that can help you, your family and friends talk about this critical topic before it becomes an issue.
Click here to download the Trust in Elections guide
