The common affliction in both the individual and the collective

 

The root of our political and social problems/conflicts

is of the same nature

as that which is the root of our personal problems/conflicts-

We increasingly rely upon top-down systems as a means of control and regulation.

For example, they are creating legislation to mandate officers do everything within their power to protect the lives of children(among other things)

"https://www.foxnews.com/.../senate-bipartisan-framework..."

This could sound like to some to be a good idea, others may have problems with the specifics of the policy, but both of these aspects are negligible when it comes to the true root of the issue. The problem is the forcing of behavior and action imposed from "above" onto all that which is "below".

If the officers of the Uvalde shooting had truly been of the community, they would have naturally rose up in the face of danger to do anything for those kids.

With the forced policy, at best, youll get officers pretending, and at worst, a growing sense of animosity from both the community and police departments.. You can't top-down force altruistic actions, it is something which arises naturally from the bottom- up. Trying to force it will only continue to create more and more cans of worms of policy and predicaments.

We do this same thing in our daily lives, within our own minds. Some of us are gentle with ourselves, but that is not the norm. One must actively learn to be gentle with themselves and unlearn their self-imposed cruelty. The truth is most of us are tyrants and villains and bullies to ourselves.. whether it be habits we have which we torture ourselves over, or a constant sense of inadequacy with our physical appearance or personality or whatever.

This pattern of top-down emphasis expresses itself through many forms in each of our lives. When we are able to be a bit more gentle with ourselves, to decrease the constant stream of top-down authority and cruelty, life starts to open up more. You start to see more possibilities-

You begin to become familiar with you,

With the gold that lays in sleep, waiting for you in the deep.