Human Connection Pathways- The Black and White

This may be the most difficult time in history to connect with other humans. The level of divisiveness within America is at a peak. Of course, we can point to social media as a major contributor to human disconnection. Opposing political, spiritual and societal viewpoints contribute significantly to our disconnection. The 24/7 news cycle, in which every insult, slight, slander, and human loss is magnified within the many media resources available to each of us. permits little respite from the chaos. Within families, communities and the nation at large, human connection is a continual challenge. Can we discuss connection without rancor…without using person-to-person separation as a solution? Are we eventually destined to become a nation of “individual islands”?

Each of us views the world through a lens that has been created by our individual experiences. No two humans on earth share the exact same set of physical, mental and emtional experiences. This fact makes connection a challenge. We are formed by our experiences to the extent that our viewpoints and expectations for ourselves and the world around us are formed in ways in which others may share some of, but not all, of our individual perceptions and outlooks. Viewpoints that we have developed will not necessarily align with others in our families, communities, or nation.

If disconnection is present to a small or large degree within our “village”, how do we overcome the separation that it causes? How do we build friendships and connections with those who look at life through very different lenses than our own? Is it possible to reduce the differing viewpoints to the extent that we can reduce the devisiveness that we are experiencing? As a nation, we are proving very inept at creating common viewpoints with regard to practically any issue. We are literally being forced into one “camp” or the other “camp”. It seems that it is either “them” or “us”. We have seriously damaged our ability to compromise with regard to any issue. We have become a nation of people with viewpoints that are “black and white” without much space for “gray”. Is it possible to move past this dilemma as a nation or within our family?

Are we a nation of black and white uncompromising viewpoints that prevent connection?

We have options that may allow us to explore the possibility of reconnecting as a family and as a nation.

1. Can we change the viewpoint of the person with whom we are attempting to connect so that we become more closely aligned? Can we move that person from black (their opposing viewpoint) to gray or possibly to white (our viewpoint)?
2. Can we change our viewpoint to align with their viewpoint? Can we compromise and move into the gray or can we accept and move into what we now consider to be the black viewpoint?
3. Can we agree to disagree on the specific issue, but find other issues or facets of life about which we can connect? Can we live within a landscape where white and black can coexist but allow us to focus on and build connection within the issues and facets where we do agree?

By selecting option 3, we will have made a mental and emotional decision to “plow around the stumps” and find fertile soil for connection that may permit friendship and further contact. Black and White does not necessarily mean “forever” separation. It may lead us to growth and evolution that, over time, may allow each of us to gain increased perspective from the experience of connection.

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