What Makes a Nation Great?

“Does the wealth of our people speak to the greatness of our nation? No. I think the things that speak to the greatness of a nation is how we take care of each other.” -Cory Booker

I’ve been doing a lot of listening, perspective taking, and thinking these last few months about what is happening in our nation, as I’m sure you have too.

What is clear to me is that (1) we’ve lost a unified vision for success in our country, (2) we don’t agree on what good looks like when it comes to the leadership of our country.

Mr. Booker cut right to it with his quote above. What makes a nation great? I certainly understand the importance of economic and military power, but it seems like many have lost sight of the importance of our moral power. The way we role model for the world that we care about humanity. What good is all that money and power if our hearts are hard? This is the real issue facing America – close-mindedness, hardness, individualism, selfishness…and those are heart issues.

This lack of an ability to engage with other perspectives, to look at the bigger picture, to make decisions that are good for the whole…this will be our demise as a country. We will fall from the inside out if we can’t get our hearts right.

So what to do? Start with you.

1. Get your own heart right. Anger and even rage, can be forces for good when they are controlled and channeled appropriately. Get in tune with how you are feeling, become aware of how that is impacting your thoughts, words, and actions. Make adjustments so you can show up healthy and whole, responding to what’s around you vs. reacting. If you don’t believe the universal truth that above all else, you were created to love and be loved (and so was everyone else), then my friend, you have work to do in your own heart. My book, Take It All Apart was created to help you do this.
   
2. Get clear on what success and good leadership looks like to you and role model it. How we show up in every space we enter makes a positive or negative ripple effect. What matters most? What traits do good leaders possess? How do you need to adjust your thoughts, words and actions accordingly? These heart changes happen inside our homes, our organizations and our communities first, then scale.
   
3. Get informed and find the nuance. Read to understand. Take it alternative perspectives. Try to see all sides. In all that is happening there is nuance and gray. When someone can see this and speak about it, they display maturity. Things are not all or nothing, black or white. We have more in common than we do not…even with those who really push our buttons. We have to remember this and act accordingly.
   
4. Use your voice for good. Eliminate hate and “othering” from your thoughts, words and actions. I witness people everyday who speak out against authoritarianism and othering but then end up acting it out themselves in their words and actions. Think about how you are saying what you say. Consider what it looks like to empower, collaborate and engage. It takes more time and requires relationship. It’s not the efficient way, but it is the most successful way in the long run.
   
5. Contribute where you can. There are opportunities all over to impact change. Find local groups, write/call your legislators, attend rallies, etc. Think about one thing you can do and do it. All of us are in various seasons of our lives and have different gifts. Do what feels right for you, but don’t wait for someone to invite you into advocacy or you won’t make a move. Don’t overthink it, just do it.

Change starts small and it starts with us. Don’t get overwhelmed and don’t give up. Focus on where you are and how you can contribute, and do it. We need you!