Move to Synchronize

When you feel too attached to (or constrained by) your in-group, get up and get moving by yourself or with others to help free you up and connect with the greater community. It's neuroscience!

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Exercises

Choose Your Lift Level

What do you have capacity for today? Whether it's a light lift, or something a little heavier, taking a step is what counts.

5 minutes 20 minutes A day

5 minutes

Check Your In-Group's Take on Reality

Invite the members of your in-group to take More in Common's Perception Gap quiz and review the findings. If you can't find the time to do it together, take it yourself and send it to those in your political in-group.

Explore your in-group's misperceptions of the other party and, if possible, discuss what they might mean for your own side.

Take The Quiz

The Science Behind It

You know the saying, "Don't believe everything that you see!" One of the biggest drivers of political polarization in the U.S. today is "the perception gap," or the difference between how extreme the majority of us on the left and right perceive the members of the opposite camp in terms of their political attitudes and actions versus where those members actually stand on the issues.

The real problem with this gap is that our inaccurate perceptions of the "other side" tend to elicit more extreme attitudes and reactions in us, which can trigger a vicious cycle. Awareness of these misperceptions can encourage us to check our assumptions and soften (or shift) our positions on some issues. This is called a "cognitive shift."

20 minutes

The Force Is With You… and at Times, Against You

Organize a discussion and mapping process to draw and visualize the variety of forces that may be dividing your group.

The Science Behind It

Peacebuilders working in deeply divided societies increasingly use simple systems mapping exercises to get groups away from only sitting at the negotiation table and more actively collaborating by getting up and physically drawing maps together. They often begin by simply listing the many elements in their environment (reward systems, norms, policies, leadership, media, influencers, events, and so on) that pit groups against each other, as well as those that encourage them to get along. This not only encourages them to move together in sync physically, but it also usually expands their understanding of the system of forces that they are all subject to. This "zooming out" on the surrounding problem space can alter the nature of the conversation and shift some of it to ways the disputants might work together to take on some of the forces.

A day

Volunteer Together!

Invite your group members to volunteer together at Habitat for Humanity or a similar organization for a day.

The Science Behind It

The neurological rewiring effects of simply walking together with people who are different from you translates well into other physical activities done jointly, such as neighborhood cleanup projects, building homes for people experiencing poverty, or volunteering together at a community center. Connecting through moving together is the premise behind the ambitious Outward Bound Peacebuilding program - joint physical challenges are bonding.

Daily Reflection

End the day by making a few notes on how else you might integrate joint movement into the life of your in-group.

Set a daily reminder

Get daily exercise reminders on your phone or email throughout The Challenge to stay on track.

Better navigate politically polarizing situations

Repair strained relationships with family and friends

Become a less reactive and more effective communicator