As Americans gear up for the upcoming swearing-in of President Elect Donald Trump the mood around the country is one of uncertainty. The outcome of the 2016 presidential election no doubt left many in shock, paralyzed even. So much so that what more than half the nation and much of the world are experiencing could be described as grief. “There’s one definition of what we often grieve for, which seems to capture what a lot of us are feeling now: It’s a loss of hope, of expectation, illusions, what we projected would be the path we’d be on,” grief expert Robert Zucker told Huffington Post.
And while grief is real and shouldn’t be masked, minimized or hurried, the upcoming inauguration creates a pivotal point where we begin what is. It’s a time we either make a choice to be stuck in denial, the first stage of grief, or we can begin to heal through self-reflection.
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It is in the space of acceptance that we can comfort in the fact that everything happens for a reason, right? If you subscribe to the belief that the external world is a reflection of our inner reality — both individually and collectively — then one begs the question, what is the lesson here?
In Joseph Aldo’s brilliantly written “Embracing the Shadow” he offers some perspective on Donald Trump’s win: “It would be utterly impossible for a man like him to be president if the collective energy — consciously or unconsciously — didn’t support and reflect such a person.”
So I ask: Are the hate, disgust, and intolerance we now observing across the country triggering our own hate, disgust and intolerance? Could it be we all summoned this energy because it exists in some capacity in each of us? What are we to learn from these times? Is this perhaps a call for each of us to examine ourselves, our homes and hearts where everything begins?
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Could it be Trump is playing a role to reveal that which needs to be healed within us? Can we change the trajectory of what so many anticipate in a Trump America by instead creating inner peace, love, acceptance and tolerance for all?
In hindsight, I’ve come face to face with my own inner Trump one too many times. In relationships that no longer served me, or in response to some of the recent atrocities observed in the news and on social media. I owe it to myself to consider that what I’m observing in our nation today is an even greater call to become the change I need for myself, as a mom, daughter, sister, friend and entrepreneur.
The journey to launch Little Proud Kid came from a dire need to ensure my own daughter had access to resources that validate her beauty and purpose. I wanted her know that she belongs — in her school, community and social circles. Today, as I choose light over dark, love over hate, peace over anger, I am even more driven to ensure my work with Little Proud Kid continues to serve minorities and undeserved cultures while promoting multiculturalism and acceptance of all people.
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I extend an invitation to anyone with whom this article resonates to turn the lens inward, examine what role you play by way of thought, action or emotion that contribute to divisions and chaos in your own life. And decide today to become the change you need and I truly believe our individual efforts will collectively reshape the world in which we live.
Georgia Lobban is the Founder of Little Proud Kid, a place to celebrate all people… one people. We focus on bringing an array of multicultural toys, books, resources and more to help you teach and celebrate the uniqueness in each and every child.
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