Be Inspired Every Day

This is not a political post nor an endorsement. Instead, I am sharing ideas on how to remain inspired and spiritual at a time when passions and negativity rule the discourse around us.

Here are five ideas on how to be inspired voters:

1. Practice Tolerance

The core of our political stance lies in our values and beliefs. Our values define what is important to us, and our beliefs shape our perception of truth. Our values and beliefs are as unique as our fingerprints. To be intolerant of one another’s values and beliefs is as silly as being intolerant of one another’s fingerprints.

To be tolerant, it is not necessary to like or even understand each others views, but only to accept that they are different.

Remember, we can not change each other’s values, we can only reinforce them, often by driving a wedge in our relationships with others.

2. Maintain Perspective

In our personal, day-to-day lives, our relationships with others add much more richness and purpose to our lives than the outcome of any election. Yet, political disagreements have the power to strain family relationships and destroy friendships.

Sometimes it’s easy to become annoyed and hypersensitive when others are bashing our political beliefs, but when put into perspective, differences in political opinion need not take on any more importance in our relationships than differences in food tastes, musical preferences or favorite colors.

3. Practice Acceptance

Acceptance is the key to peace, serenity and freedom. Our power as voters has limits. We can each cast one vote and have no power over how others choose to vote. When we realize this, we free ourselves from futile attempts to change things we can not change, and we are free to use that power elsewhere.

Be prepared for any outcome. It may or may not be the case that the majority of voters hold our values and beliefs. That’s the nature of Democracy.

4. Forget about Heroes and Villains

Despite the mudslinging and candidate bashing claims we hear, both Obama and McCain have a deep love for their country and outstanding leadership abilities. They would not have gotten as far as they have without these things. Additionally, they have both …

• … made silly mistakes.
• … done amazing things for this country.
• … spread misleading rumors about their opponents.
• … solved problems together as Senators.
• … received huge sums of money from lobbyists.
• … received strong grass roots support.

The significant difference between the candidates is how they propose to deal with the issues our country faces. There’s only one question we need to answer when we cast our vote.
Who is going to lead us through the issues our country is facing in a way I agree with most?

5. Be Educated and Vote

Here are a few sites to learn where the candidates stand on the issues they believe are important. Focus on what they say about themselves, not each other.

• Policy Issues – Obama
• Policy Issues –  McCain
• A fairly objective Presidential Election 2008 FAQ.