Adopt a mindset of passion and perseverance towards your country, understanding that love of country doesn’t have to be easy or uncritical. Work to improve your country, even when it’s difficult, rather than expecting an effortless love.
Train your brain to accept that two conflicting statements can simultaneously be true, as this loosens the mind, fosters creativity in problem-solving, and builds resilience when facing emotionally difficult situations.
Approach self-criticism or national criticism with a ‘good-ish’ mindset, recognizing that this perspective always leaves room for growth and improvement, rather than feeling threatened by perceived flaws.
View your country like an old house you own; accept responsibility for its ’leaks’ (painful historical issues) not because you caused them, but because you benefit from the house and must address issues that affect the present.
Actively work against the ’long time ago illusion’ by recognizing that the past is living in the present, and understanding historical events helps clarify current societal patterns and disparities.
Approach difficult issues, like the ‘Patriot’s Dilemma’ (loving your country while acknowledging its painful past), by simply seeing the problem for what it is, without immediate judgment, similar to meditation principles.
Prepare for the emotional ‘weather’ of disbelief, anger, shame, or guilt when engaging with complex history, allowing these emotions to arise without being owned by them, knowing they will pass.
When faced with information that triggers denial, return to your core values (e.g., equality, liberty) by reflecting on them, as this practice helps you ride through difficult emotions and prevents shutting down.
Be critical of simplified historical narratives (racial fables) that sugarcoat the past, as these can cloud your judgment of current change efforts and lead to unhelpful critiques of contemporary activism.
Review your last 5-10 consumed media items (podcasts, movies, books) and intentionally seek out content that offers at least 10% more varied perspectives and voices to broaden your understanding of lived experiences and historical narratives.
Engage with challenging issues sustainably: if new, be 10% more mortified (stay in learning mode); if familiar, be 10% more terrified (take more risks, speak up); if exhausted, be 10% more satisfied (take a break, knowing others can step in).
When encountering historical narratives, put on ‘historiographer goggles’ to question whose perspective is being presented and what might be left out, similar to how one would question different family members’ accounts of an event.
Gamify the embrace of paradox by actively looking for ‘paradox points’ in daily life, recognizing that if your brain seeks consistency, it will be frustrated, but seeking paradox allows you to see things more as they are.