Choosing Kindness in a Time of Division

The temperature is at a boiling point... and I'm not referring to the temperature in Phoenix today (a toasty 104 as I write this.) 

Rather, it feels like conflict seems to meet us at every turn - woven into politics, communities, and conversations. The war of “left versus right” has boiled to a dangerous level. It is normal to feel pulled toward anger, blame, or fear of the current administration or the "other side."  

In Dr. Deepak Chopra's recent article, "Despairing over Peace? There Is an Answer" he reminds us it is natural to feel affected - even to despair.   And that "...there is an antidote to despair that at the same time contributes to the real possibility of peace."   He suggests we reframe fear, anger, and blame to align our awareness with peace a bit more each day by asking ourself a fundamental question:

“Do I want to be part of the problem or part of the solution?”

Being part of the problem looks like:

* Clinging to tribal loyalty, whether political or cultural.
* Demonizing those who see the world differently.
* Believing victory for our “side” matters more than connection for all.
* Following fear and anger as if they were truth.

Being part of the solution looks like:

* Refusing to reduce our neighbors to “us” and “them.”
* Holding space for forgiveness, understanding, and dialogue.
* Choosing kindness even when it feels easier to judge.
* Recognizing that healing begins within us before it can spread around us.

If the temperature in our nation feels unbearable to you, that’s your queue to help cool it down. Not by silencing your voice or your values, but by carrying both with empathy. Not by shrinking away from courage, but by walking into conflict with the intention to heal, not to win.

Following are a few practices we can take on collectively:

• Pause before reacting.  Ask: Am I adding fuel or offering kindness? 
• Listen with curiosity. Understanding doesn’t mean agreeing, but it creates possibility.
• Choose kindness over contempt. Small acts soften the collective tone.
• Reject fear as your guide. It rarely leads to truth.
• Model forgiveness. It’s not weakness, it’s courage.
• Remember: no one wins in division. If both sides lose trust, the cycle continues.
• Bring kindness into daily practice. A mindful breath, a softened word, a willingness to step back.

The world doesn’t typically change overnight. But every choice we make is added to the collective experience. If we withhold even one grain of sand from the pile of anger, we can shift the balance toward kindness.

The question remains, as Deepak posed it: "Do I want to be part of the problem or part of the solution?"

That choice begins not in Washington, not on a battlefield, but with you and I - in our hearts, our homes, our conversations.