Carl Jung wrote, “The psychology of a large crowd inevitably sinks to the level of mob psychology.”

As chaos ensues around us, I have been thinking about how to counter the harshness of it all. How to create a positive vibration from something that appears as the manifestation of doom and gloom.

A group that is leaderless or sometimes worse, nefarious leadership, is prone to poor behavior. To reducing itself to the lowest common denominator. At the center of that poor behavior, you will likely find fear causing hate. Or the inverse. This has played out time after throughout history. So, how do we prevent or interfere with such patterns?

There is a concept in Judaism that says one good deed causes another good deed, and one bad deed causes another bad deed.

I’ll be candid with you. I despise when people tell me that it’s all going to be ok. That this wicked virus and forced quarantine is actually a good thing. I know there is no malintent here, but I just don’t find solace in these words.

What I do find solace in, is the promise and intention to drive towards good. To feel myself move into some sort of action and inspire goodwill in myself and others. But this we must choose to do. We can not let ourselves become passive victims of fear and uncertainty. We must maintain control over our thoughts, emotions, and behavior, and choose faith over fear. Choose kindness over hate. Choose to find some source of hope, even when it’s layered with difficulty.

I don’t know what will be and I don’t know why. What I do know is that if I don’t stand up as a leader for my community and family, if I don’t seek out positivity, then I would drown in the despair of it all. I would drown in the discomfort and hardship of those around me.

And the thing is, we are all leaders in our own right. We all have someone looking to us for direction, for guidance on what is possible. You and I can choose to be part of the solution or part of the problem. Victimhood will only create more victims.

This week, may we create a mob mentality for good. May we galvanize others to spread hope, kindness, and empathy. And may that start with our power of choice. I will choose these things and I so desperately hope you do as well. One person may help many, but together, we can help all.

Accountability, Community, Unconditional Love

Asher

Posted in Thought of the Week, Uncategorized