Complicate to Simplify

Intentionally complicate your life - introduce new viewpoints and learn to tolerate and learn from contradiction, nuance, and opposition - before you zero in on actionable decisions.

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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 30 minutes Half a day

5 minutes

Make Three New News Frenemies

If you didn't choose this option previously, complicate your understanding of current events by locating and following three legitimate (well-intentioned, informed, and decent) sources of news and opinion that differ from you politically. Plan to turn to them whenever news breaks this week and you feel inclined to turn to your usual news sources. You can locate these sources by checking out reporting from news groups like All Sides and Flip Side.

The Science Behind It

Our news habits have a profound effect on our understanding of the world. Due to our upbringing and education, we are likely to have a few sources that we automatically turn to out of habit when we want to get information about a current event. Having a familiar source to rely on for news can be comforting. But all news programs have some editorial bias, so it is useful to intentionally change channels or websites when news breaks to seek out contrary, albeit legitimate, views on events. This is an excellent exercise for your mind and your attitude.

30 minutes

Go to School on Your Issue

Go to the National Issues Forums Institute website and download one of their discussion guides on the dozens of divisive issues they have covered.

Download A Discussion Guide

The Science Behind It

If participating in a dialogue session over politically divisive issues feels like too much for you at this stage, begin by educating yourself about the various sub-issues, dilemmas, and trade-offs inherent to many of the proposed solutions on the more challenging issues we face in our country today. These guides present multiple perspectives on each issue in a way that will inform and challenge anyone's thinking, but they do so without leaning too heavily in any one direction. Pick a topic and check one out! If you feel up for the challenge, share it with someone you know across the aisle and then ask them for their take on it.

Half a day

Visit "Other-Land" - Travel to Politically Different Places and Listen

If you feel comfortable doing so, get in a car or on a bus or bike and travel to a community with a different political majority than your own for a short visit or holiday.

Consider using one of these maps to locate a neighborhood, town, or county near you that differs from your political orientation and visit for part of the day. Then, head to a diner, café, library, or town hall and take in life there. But this time, ask members of the community their thoughts on solutions to your issue of interest. And just listen. Ask clarifying questions, but try to avoid criticism. Just listen to what is important to them and why. You will be surprised by what you can learn when you just hear.

Visit Other Land

The Science Behind It

Research has found that more fruitful and satisfying conversations over moral issues often evidence a high ratio of inquiry-to-advocacy statements (genuinely asking questions to better understand the context of events and issues rather than just advocating a position). This is one way to practice the need to resist and fight for your side on the issues while at the same time, finding and nurturing the decency and humanity of those on all sides.

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