Politics refers to the activities of the government or members of law-making parties who influence the way a country is governed. The current state of political exchange is disheartening. Wisdom, compassion and integrity are not only lacking but bullying, immaturity and blatant lies have proliferated.

Politics is also the interaction of people or groups helping to make collective choices or solve collective problems. Politics on an individual level can be viewed as the way each of us influences the direction or changes we would like to see happen. In a simple way, how we choose to spend our money is a powerful vote. Are we supporting the things that reflect our values or are we compromising our integrity? Are we supporting the things we believe in?

These are challenging times. It is often difficult to discern whether something we read or hear is true or false, party line or half-truth. Is it information or indoctrination? The term “misinformation” may be attributed to controversial topics by those who benefit by commercial gain. It is then labeled misinformation even if based on extensive research by experts who are not tied to any commercial or personal gain in regard to an issue.

Where do we find truth? Where do we find wisdom and compassion? We can find it within when we learn to sit in silence or walk in the beauty of nature or listen with our hearts. We can find it in the things we hear and see and research when we feel it expand our hearts. We can find it when we sensitize ourselves to our internal “yes” and “no” sense or intuition, our personal source of inner guidance sometimes referred to as a sixth sense. And we can find it in an invisible but unfolding and developing awareness, a seventh sense, as we learn to connect with the divine within. We have that connection even when we are not aware of it. It is the highest source of wisdom, compassion and truth. It’s always with us, waiting to be heard and felt.

While all that is physical is temporary our souls and our spirits are ongoing, beckoning us to learn and utilize the transformational potential of kindness, truth and love. If enough of us embrace and utilize our potential to connect with our inherent nature the world would be transformed. In so doing, we would usher in a Golden Age we can’t even now imagine.

 If we look at history we can find spiritual and enlightened leaders that exemplify this connection and the real potential of humanity. That potential is realized in the growth and expansion of our innate spirit, working for the good of the whole. We can allow it to remain static or contracted but its nature is evolutionary and we hold it in our souls.  Spiritual teachers and leaders have appeared throughout history to show us the way.

Quotes from the heart:

Stand steadfast in Your Truth with Compassion. Stand in your integrity. As you live up to the highest light you have more and more light will come to you.   - Peace Pilgrim

Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace. ― Mahatma Gandhi

When you have a choice to be right or to be kind, always pick kind. Living from your highest spiritual sense is the essence of what it means to be a self-actualized person. – Wayne Dyer

Self-actualizing people do what they do because they are following their heart, the call of their soul, not because of what might accrue to them.  - Dr. Maslow

If I have been of service, if I have glimpsed more of the nature and essence of ultimate good, if I am inspired to reach wider horizons of thought and action, if I am at peace with myself, it has been a successful day.  - Alex Noble

Never forget that you are one of a kind. Never forget that if there weren't any need for you in all your uniqueness to be on this earth, you wouldn't be here in the first place. And never forget, no matter how overwhelming life's challenges and problems seem to be, that one person can make a difference in the world. In fact, it is always because of one person that all changes that matter in the world come about. So be that one person. - Buck-minster Fuller

Cheryl Canfield, CCHT, 2023