Unmasking the Truth
(skip to “The Fourth Question” below if you read prior questions already)
Having broached the topic of masks, I want to encourage dialogue between the polarities of the debate. This is challenging given the political climate of uncivil discord rather than civil discourse. With a vision of communities coming together to collectively determine truth and decide on policy, I offer a series of questions. I don’t want to give answers, but questions that re-teach all of us to engage in discourse which will lead us to that vision. Somewhere between the polar extremes, we will find the truth that we all need.
Therefore, let’s unmask the truth whether it leads to “masks or no masks”, “mandates or no mandates”, and more.
The Fourth Question…
Imagine yourself confronted by someone who expresses an opinion contrary to yours. It could be on social media, in line at the grocery store, in a town hall meeting, a family gathering, or anywhere. Your first impulse is to blast away. Throw your best at them. Pound them into submission. This happens from both sides of the debate.
We live in an age of fear and anxiety. Both sides of this debate have their own fears. Ask yourself what you are afraid of and then ask the person standing before you about their fears. Knowing yourself better will make you more able to debate and to empathize. Consider if your fears are valid. Challenge the other person to consider if their fears are valid.
Be sure to listen when they describe their fears and their justification. Don’t jump in with 1,001 reasons to not fear. Ask further questions to understand them and encourage them to reconsider their fears without your forcing the matter.
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.