Breaking down the reciprocal relationship of government and emotional intelligence.

Breaking down the reciprocal relationship of government and emotional intelligence.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

-Excerpt from Second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence

Written by Thomas Jefferson and submitted before Congress on July 4th, 1776.

If you aren’t familiar with those sentences than you need to stop reading this article and you need to read Jefferson’s epic declaration in full.

https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript

Now that that’s out of the way, lets examine the aforementioned relationship in light of Jefferson’s Declaration. He begins by declaring:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

We tend to forget that this was a truly radical approach to government. Yes, we could rant on the hypocrisy of slavery and cancel Jefferson but that would be foolish. Foolish because that would be focusing on a moment in time without due consideration to the infinite impact. And that impact is the expansion of these inalienable rights to all persons regardless of ones reproductive organs or skin color. None of which would be guaranteed were it not for Jefferson’s declaration, itself the musings of those who came before him. While his reasoning has already positively benefited People within the United States and beyond, as many do recognize the radical importance of our People’s Declaration of Independance, the true impact belongs to posterity.

The declaration would not have happened were it not for emotional intelligence.

In previous essays I’ve made the point that emotional intelligence is the ability to discern and manage your mental, emotional, and behavioral patterns, including the ability to discern these patterns in Others, and that it requires self-awareness to develop this intelligence.

It is self-awareness—noticing your mental state and biochemistry in action—that produces the inevitable realization that all Humans are created Equal and with inalienable rights to Life, Liberty, and Happiness. True self-awareness always produces Goodness because when you see the Truth of yourself you will see the same Truth in Others.

We are all human made from stardust and bound with energy.

The culture curtain will dissolve, leaving to bare the Sameness in everyone and this expanded Awareness will forever alter your Framework. By contrast, it is in the shadowy absence of awareness that evil strikes from. If you cannot see the Sameness in All, then you will see yourself as Separate from All.

It is this separation that becomes the division which creates the fear that fuels the hate that manifests as evil.

The belief that you are Separate is selfish. Because it is selfish we know it is rooted in narcissism. Know any tyrants who fit that bill?

Next, Jefferson argues for an emotionally intelligent government to provide the Framework to secure our inalienable Rights:

—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

If all people were possessed of self-awareness and a high degree of emotional intelligence than government would not be necessary. That is not that case. While it seems we are born with a clean slate, in practice that means we require shaping to develop the emotional intelligence that Frees one to be oneself and we are not all shaped by the same environment. This is why we need a government of the people and for the people to provide a Safe and Free space where we can Grow.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

The sad reality of the human experience is that Growth is rare when one lacks emotional intelligence.

If emotional intelligence is the discernment and management of mental, emotional, and behavior patterns, then Growth is the progress one makes over a lifetime of doing so.

This goes back to Plato’s Cave:

Several slaves live in a dark cave. They are chained to the floor and only able to look straight ahead. They cannot even turn their head to see one another. Behind them is the opening, across which their enslavers pass by, creating an array of shadows on the rock before their faces. Not knowing better, the slaves believe their reality is THE reality. They believe that everything is a two dimensional shadow. They spend years watching the shadows and discussing what they see. Till one slave is dragged out of the cave and forced to reckon with the wider world outside. At first he experiences great pain from exposure to the bright light. His eyes slowly adjust and he begins to see color. He sees shapes and three dimensions. There is bewilderment and doubt. He knows this can't be real. It must be a trick. Slowly, there is acceptance. Slowly, he marvels in wonder at the true nature of reality. His reality has expanded. He is determined to free his friends from the cave. He goes back and tries to convince them that the reality they know is not the true reality. He tells them it will be very painful, but well worth it. He tells of the intense pain and confusion and how what they know to be real is not real at all. The other slaves think their friend has gone mad. Why else would he be trying to convince them to experience the blinding pain? The pain must have twisted his mind which is why he is doubting all that they have known. The Others plot to kill him, lest his madness spread to them.

By extension, when a populace lives in the darkness of its own shadow it becomes more likely that they will stay in the darkness than brave the bright light. This is what Jefferson meant. It has been my experience that the Universe conspires to orchestrate the expansion of energy.  And as the yogic texts declare, one can awaken through conscious practice or spontaneous fortune. Or until circumstances become too dire to endure. Or until someone pulls you from the cave. Or some combination thereof.

Anyway, my hope for us All is that we leave the illusory security of the Cave to Grow in the light of day. And that we honor the trials and tribulations of our Ancestors who Grew from eating the Fruit of their Ancestors, just as we do.

Thank you and Aloha,

Alex Novaa