Post 1 of 6: How to stay centered while engaging in politics on Facebook
I’ve been noticing a lot of folks in my social media feeds saying some version of this:
“I’ve been trying to engage more in political dialogue on social media, and it’s burning me out.”
And though people are really challenged right now, I’ve been so inspired to see how many people are experimenting, to find a way to make an impact in their social circles.
And a lot of people think Facebook is just not conducive to tough conversations like this, but I believe we have to use the tools we are given to make a difference.
And the fact is that people DO talk about this stuff online, that’s not going to change, so really the only question is:
“How do we do this in a way that’s sustainable and constructive?”
I’ve been experimenting with this myself over the last year or so, and I’ve been finding that I am more often engaging in a way that feels sustainable, and sometimes even satisfying.
It’s still hard, but it’s somehow becoming less draining.
So I thought I’d sit down and think about what I’ve been doing that has been helpful. I came up with 6 strategies, and surprise, surprise, they all come down to being clear about boundaries.
Which makes sense, because if I am going to engage with near-strangers on complex topics that are near and dear to my heart, my level of self-care has to be high and consistent.
So I thought I’d share some of what’s been working for me. Here’s the 1st of 6 strategies on this (#2 will be tomorrow). I’d love to hear what’s been working or not working for you too.
I’ll pull all my ideas, plus ideas I get from you, together into a blog post next week, so hopefully, this can become a resource for folks.
Tip # 1: I test the waters with a small investment of time, before diving in with a larger one.
For instance, if someone has commented on something I posted, and I feel I need to respond, I don’t wade in with a long, passionate missive about how I feel. I keep it short and to the point and see how they respond.
Basically, I’m looking for an opening: Are they saying something that sparks my genuine curiosity? Did they seem to hear anything that I said, or are they digging in or repeating what they said before? Are they showing signs of curiosity about my viewpoint?
The less I know the person, and the deeper the apparent divide between our perspectives, the wider the opening needs to be for me to invest much beyond my initial response.
It’s not a judgment on whether this person is worth my time. It’s a calculation about how well positioned I am to make a difference with this person.
What do you think? Like I said, I’d love your ideas and feedback, because I’m hoping to turn this into a resource for folks who want to use their social networks as arenas of social change.
