Shining Lightness on a Historic Week in America
Frank Fitzpatrick 01/20/2021
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This is a truly historic week in America.
It started with a holiday honoring one of America’s greatest iconic heroes – Martin Luther King Jr.
Joe Biden, having won the popular vote in an unprecedented election, will be sworn into office as the 46th President of the United States.
Kamala Harris will become the first woman, first Africa-American, and first Asian-American to hold the office of Vice President.
Former President Donald Trump made history himself as the first US president to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives. By the time you read this, the evenly divided Senate will have voted whether or not to follow through with the impeachment trial, or refuse to do so – a gridlock that can only be broken by Harris after she is sworn into office.
In the meantime, Trump will have made another mark in the history books as the first president since Andrew Johnson (150 years ago) to refuse a peaceful transition of office.
On the global health front, cases of the Coronavirus reached record highs last week, with claims nearing 100M cases worldwide. The top 10 pharmaceutical companies have meanwhile experienced record profits and stock prices, and the mental health of millions is at a breaking point.
So what can we learn?
Change is Slow and Change is Messy
But change, and all the resistance and the collapse of old systems that comes with it, is necessary for the evolution of humanity. It took a civil war to free the slaves, and another 100 years after Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation (1863) for Johnson to sign the Civil Rights Act (1964) into law.
It has taken a radical presidency, a highly disruptive transition, and an escalated divide to prepare us for the new possibilities that lie ahead. And it will take time.
Perspective is Essential
The political disruption has brought important hidden issues into the spotlight and motivated more people to vote than ever in US history. While 1 death is too many, only 2% of the Covid-19 cases have led to death, and most in people with already-compromised health issues. Cancer took 5 times as many lives in 2018, and the death toll of the Flu Pandemic of 1918 was 10 times greater in the first six months.
On the upside, but less in the spotlight: we have developed new generations of vaccines in record time, learned simple protocols for avoiding transmission, and know of several proven practices for enhancing resilience, mental health and overall immunity.
We Can Still Laugh and Sing Together
Even in the midst of their battles with injustice, MLK kept his sense of humor and Curtis Mayfield sang. You can too. And you should. Both will improve your mood and your health, not to mention the spirits and wellbeing of those you love and care for.
I’m not saying to take tragedy, loss and injustice with complacency. By all means, stand steadfast in your beliefs, grieve your losses, and fight to uphold the values that include and benefit all people.
I’m simply suggesting that in the big picture of life, we will face all of these. They are the unfortunate challenges of being human. But, as humans, we have other great resources and capacities – ones that can help us through the most difficult times, as well as celebrate our countless blessings and nearly-infinite potential.
They include love, joy, laughter and music. These are essential and innate parts of our human nature, and part of what makes life not only bearable, but sacred and celebratory. These are the medicine and the elixirs for our vitality, our relationships and our dreams. Without them, we have no real freedom. They make up the “happiness” in our inalienable right to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
This week, in the midst of all the drama and mixed emotions, I encourage you to make some space for joy, love and laughter. Try singing or adding a little music if you want to amplify the goodness.
And, in the honor of MLK, keep moving in the direction of your dreams.
Here’s to Co-Creating a Better World, Together.
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Read about the Hearables Revolution in my column on Forbes.com.
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About the Author
Frank Fitzpatrick is a Creative Visioneer, Engagement Expert and High-Performance Coach on the Faculty of Singularity University’s Exponential Medicine.
To connect, go to FrankFitzpatrick.com
To learn more about working 1-on1 with Frank, go to BeyondPerformance.Life
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