Politics Aren't Dividing Us, Our Pain Is

The majority of us fear loss and change—and some project and protect by any means necessary—but we have more in common than we've been led to believe.

[Photo by Marcus Murphy]

Division makes for great TV, which generates a lot of money for those who control the media. While political agendas and media narratives often fuel divisiveness for personal gain, now is the time to confront the deeper human fears and insecurities at the root of our rifts. Paradoxically, the key to transcending polarization and rediscovering our shared humanity lies in embracing the universal realities of impermanence, mortality, and the search for meaning—the fundamental truths that bind us all as human beings.

The Impact of Polarization

Recently, Clay Routledge and Gonzalo Schwarz published an opinion piece in Newsweek, entitled “The Psyche That Unites Americans Is Deeper Than the Politics Dividing Us.“ In it, they explain how polarization stunts ideation, erodes social trust, and prioritizes group loyalty (belonging) over open dialogue (curiosity).

Social trust is more important than we may think because it “supports democratic stability, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.” It’s also contributes to our mental health epidemic, which equates to a significant reduction in “work productivity and economic growth.”