To —Cancel— or not? Tips (either way) in this cancel culture era

One of the things that came out during the pandemic is the concept of the cancel culture. Is it good or bad? Personally, I’m not such a fan of it. If you find yourself gravitating toward the cancel culture, however, you’re probably not alone. I have some tips for you if you do. If you don’t gravitate towards it and want to try to embrace differences, I also have some tips for you!

If you trend toward the cancel culture (i.e., you want to get rid of someone/something):

• Make sure you’re canceling the right something. Should we cancel people? Should we cancel products? I guess that’s up to the individual, isn’t it? For me, I guess one could say I canceled the majority of social media I used. To this day, I’ve not had one person say to me, “You know, I really miss seeing you on ______.” Doing this has made a huge difference in my wellbeing. I’m a Jesus-follower, which means I practice loving God and loving others. It’s hard because sometimes I think other people get in the way when it’s really me.
• Look at the facts from different sources than you normally check. Please for the love of God and all goodly creatures do not get your news from FaceBook. I think that’s sound advice no matter one’s political leanings. Consider other sources. In America, for example, the “news” has changed in my opinion. It has gone from trustworthy to sensational.The t-shirt definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. Try something different.
• Ask yourself, “Is it really worth it for me to put my energy in this cancellation?” For some, it may not be worth it. For others, it might be. It is a good idea to press pause, give yourself time to think, and then act. If it doesn’t have to be done right away, sleep on it. See if your perspective changes.
• Consider the other side. It never hurts to consider alternative points of view, different sources, or investigate further. Talk with trusted friends. Be open and listen. If you ask questions, listen to the answers.

If you don’t trend toward the cancel culture (i.e., you want to find new ways to embrace differences):

• Be curious. Take the risk to ask questions to reach a better level of understanding. Explore different points of view. Have conversations with people who do not look like you. Visit different cultural events. Be genuine in your curiosity.
• Have conversations. If someone offends you, talk with that person kindly and civilly. By talk, I mean literally talk. I do not mean debate. I do not mean argue. I do not mean badger in an effort to get the person to side with you. Have a kind and loving exchange.
• Commit to a different mindset. Tell yourself and others that you are making a change and are trying to stop _____ or start _____. This gets you accountability and support in making this change.
• Immerse yourself in different situations. In other words, get comfortable being uncomfortable. This is a tough one for me sometimes. Being introvertedly-wired, I have a hard time putting myself out there. What helps me is knowing someone who is not introverted (like my wife) and participating with.
• Expand your cultural awareness and knowledge. Check out free courses, videos, or attend trainings to help you grow as a person. This can be through art, music, and movies, too.

Whichever side of the fence you’re on, you’re not alone. Please know that. I’d encourage you to broaden your horizons in a loving way. Sleep on it. Have a discussion with trusted people in your life. Pray if you pray. Whatever you decide to do, be kind and be positive.

The world needs that from all of us.

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