Question #2

How do progressive activists need to change how they FEEL – that is, in terms of our tendencies, how would you like to alter your inner experience?

The responses listed below were offered in reply to Question  #1, “Do progressive activists need to improve how they relate to others? If so, how?“ That question dealt with outer behavior. This one addresses inner experience.

On reflection, though I found all of the responses to the first question helpful, the one that is most illuminating and challenging for me is the comment about patience. I find this response important in part because the author reports having given up on working with progressive activists. I suspect her experience is far from unique. And it’s timely because I’m re-reading The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus, which inspires me to try to fully and simultaneously embrace both horns of various dilemmas, which is no easy task. For example, we can totally “want it all now” and at the same time realize and accept that we will never get all that we want.

In addition to Yahya's lengthy, thoughtful comment here on the blog which I just now saw and have not yet digested, the responses to the first question were:

1. Become more instructive and less accusatory.
2. I think both progressives and arch right conservatives have to improve their empathetic listening skills, be more open and less mired in their own beliefs.
3. what...stop talking?
4. Yes. The righteous indignation tends to turn people away. The ego, the judgement. a progressive activist (or any activist, I suppose) needs to not invest so much in immediate results, immediate rallying - but, be patient and be in it for the long term. Activism is a long and slow process without many immediate rewards, at times. Pretty soon after the rallying cry it can turn into "You're not doing it the way I want you to do it and I started this thing..." kind of stuff. Factions and splits form and - soon after - abandonment of the process. Patience is a virtue in leaders, and many social activists don't have a lot of patience to spare. In my experience of giving up on working with progressive activists...
5. suggest Stephen R. Covey's book the Third Altenative, and no you don't stop talking , but you listen to everyone's ideas before inflicting your's on others.
6. I remember when people started describing themselves as progressive I myself did a fellowship for the Center for Progressive Leadership which is now non existent. At that time I would describe progressive as trying to make progress in our society from the two party system as well as the box that people live in the political system in this country. That they cannot think outside the two party box and they themselves can't provide a solution to move this country forward and make progress. 
7. frame the debate and go on the offensive rather than react to right wing obfuscation.
8. Yes, of course. We need to listen more, insult less, and focus on positive visions that resonate and provide hope in addition to endlessly critiquing the many negatives. Progressive activists need to tell more stories, get ourselves and others to laugh more, celebrate more victories, build broader coalitions, stop cannibalizing our own as much, and never quit.  We have truth, morality, and history on our side, but nothing is inevitable or automatic; we have to go out and help make it happen.
9. Yes! Be Fair, Firm and Calm.