When the new POTUS was announced, my first thought was: “Good for you, Donald J. Trump. Go grab ’em!” Because that Billy Bush incident, although it did not “shake me to the core” – vulgar commentary and cynicism does not have that kind of power over me -, has left its dent in the log of history.
Nonetheless, I confess that I’ve admired Mr. Trump’s confidence for a long time now. Going in public and talking in superlative terms about your life and achievements takes courage and self-esteem. Many people would feel ridiculous, embarrassed, ashamed, and even guilty for what they would consider boasting. The only sources of comfort left for that frame of mind are humble bragging and/or other people’s approval and praise. We all need to feel good about ourselves in order to be truly happy, and counting on feedback from others is risky gambling. People have their own issues, plus, whatever they think or say about you is influenced by factors that are totally unrelated to you, such as upbringing, preconceptions, feelings, or even moods. From that perspective, I find Donald Trump inspiring. A successful person asserting their achievements and gifts is a reminder to straighten your back and start counting your blessings. Too bad so many people prefer plunging into criticism instead.
Even if you hate Trump, keep in mind that he is a symbol of American success, the kind of success that has a consistent entertainment component, he has the notoriety and persona to attract massive amounts of disapproval and hate, so he needs a big ego to carry on. The average person does not need to go the full Trump confidence model.
At this point, you may wrongly think I’m a fan of Trump’s. This article is not a praise, but a reminder to reconsider who and what you praise.
When the final choice for the presidency of (a country such as) the United States of America is reduced to Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, one must wake up and start questioning politics, the media, but, most of all, one’s own beliefs. The charade is increasingly blatant. Discussing and comparing candidates has only polarized and poisoned the general public, and it is distressing to see personas overshadowing the common good. Aren’t we all in this together? Evidently not, since the journey to the top is about persuading the electorate that one vision is better than another, instead of (at least) trying to synergize and truly serve the people. The electorate is generally made of well-meaning people who care about their lives and communities, people who deserve more than heated debates on the character and qualifications of the few who have the privilege to star in the electoral tragicomedy. This is not a beauty pageant or a wrestling match and it mustn’t be treated as such, for the stakes are much higher and directly impact the general population. People deserve debates that lead to solutions to their problems, and the fact that politics require gimmicks to draw and keep attention reveals its carrot on a stick philosophy.
If after the 2016 US elections (highly publicized and debated worldwide), you can’t see the nature of contemporary politics… don’t worry, it will get worse, until there’s no way around the fact that change is imminent. Future presidential elections will probably bring forward candidates less and less suited for the role, and one day the head of state might as well be President Camacho – a character from the movie “Idiocracy”, not so surprisingly a former professional wrestler. Hopefully, we’ll change our minds and our lives sooner rather than later.
This does not concern only the US. Profound change is needed all around the world, and it’s not merely political. The political system is only one of the many obsolete systems that need transformation or abolition. The more we resist change, the rougher the transition. Shouting in the streets “we are the people, governments should fear/serve us” doesn’t help as much as some think anymore, because it means you’re asking THEM (authorities) to validate YOUR power. We already have that power. They always say that your vote counts during the elections, but, in reality, we are voting every moment of our lives. The way you choose to think, speak and act every day is what really counts, that is the impact you truly have on this world. And we’re back to confidence, self-esteem, and courage – the confidence that you can think for yourself, the self-esteem to be the best version of yourself, and the courage to live your truth.
The way this world is going to change is ultimately the collective attitude we have toward life. Will our choices be guided by wisdom or fear?