The Plight of Empty Wars

What a world–one of divides that become more significant daily. Most notable at the time of this writing is the mounting Israel vs. Palestine carnage. Closer to home for the USA, there’s conflict between mainstream Republicans and MAGA extremists shutting down basic government. Then how the two collide: the USA wanting to provide support for the new crisis but, given the mindless opposition stewing among lawmakers, is paralyzed.

How crazy is this? Even those whose deepest beliefs profess faith in loving and forgiving religions seem hopelessly drawn into antagonistic, unproductive choices of behavior. Are we really so mindless as it seems?

Actually, I suggest that a lot of mindful goings on are hunkered down behind the scenes. But they’re not ones that get effective results. Instead, our plight of mindless warring is evidence of the human stress response gone awry. An otherwise valuable survival tool wreaks havoc because in times of crisis, we’ve been making a habit of picking up the wrong tool for the job.

Stars of the Show

Fueling this drama are two main characters, both residing in our inner toolboxes.

First, the antagonist: the gut brain, affectionately known as the inner lizard. He looks innocent enough, hiding there in the shadows. But he’s a formidable foe for any who dare threaten. He fortifies self defense in times of threat, at times even saving our skins.

Next comes the protagonist: the logical brain, seeking to bring wisdom and practical know-how to the inner lizard’s automatic alarm system. He’s more inclined to think things through than give in to knee-jerk reacting.

Lately, these two guys haven’t been working together very well. All would be well if they agreed to play together nicely. More typically, no matter how gently or firmly the gut brain tries to keep the logical brain in its place, it only becomes all the more insistent, believing it’s the better lobe for the job. As a result, the restricted flexibility of the stress response can become self-defeating.

Thus the real conflict is not one of opposing social attitudes, differing philosophies and worldviews, or cartoonishly polarized political parties. It is the ultimate battle between fear and logic, two yet-evolving brain functions going head to head. What spins around us today is merely the joint echoed cry of each individual’s inner struggle between logic and gut. We react to the immediacy of gut messages, rather than take time to engage our higher functioning brain.

We don’t typically recognize it as such. Instead, we tend to see only political perspectives busily tearing into one other. We react. They react back. And the beat goes on.

But there is hope. We have the ability to change our choices of beliefs and behaviors, no matter how loud the panic of our inner lizards cries out to self-protect. That’s resilience speaking–proving itself stronger and mightier than antagonist and protagonist alike. The key to moving forward is understanding the nature of our inner resources, and how to choose the right tool for the job.