You Exist in the World You See
Booker firmly believes that everything in life exists on a flexible continuum. Perspective is key, he argues. And this perspective is what shapes each individual’s view of the world. Booker suggests that if you believe the world to be a dark, cruel, and dreary place, then the world you exist in will be so, for you will be unwilling to see the hope, kindness, and goodness within it. On the opposite end of the continuum, an individual who sees only kindness, good, and compassion in their world may be blinded to the bleak and dreary aspects. Booker argues that a healthy balance of pragmatism and positivity is necessary to maintain an accurate and objective perspective of the world. In this way, we are all fundamentally grounded in our own perspectives; we will exist in the world that we perceive and create for ourselves.
A Responsibility of Empathy and Compassion
At the core of Booker’s piece is the idea that empathy and compassion are our most powerful vessels for action and change—political or otherwise. If we, as a country, as the embodiment of humanity, could manage spread only messages of empathy and compassion and kindness, we would all be in a better position to bring about action. Booker uses his book to suggest that we are most convincing, most powerful, and most influential when we are embodying kindness, empathy, and compassion. These, Booker argues, are our most powerful vessels of change and action. If we can harness our empathy and compassion and use these emotions to bring about change, we will truly be the most powerful and influential individuals in the world—able to make it a better place for all humanity. It is our responsibility, therefore, to embody these wholesome emotions and to use our power to bring about action.
The Spectrum of Power
Throughout this book, Booker repeated urges his readers to understand that power exists entirely on a spectrum, dictated by those who give and take that power. Power, he argues, is entirely about perception. There is no true power, for it can be given to and simultaneously rescinded from any who are willing to work for it. He uses this theme to remind his readers that there are no “average citizens” or ordinary people who are completely powerless. Rather, he re-iterates that power manifests itself in many ways. One person can exhibit their power by voting, while someone else my manifest this same power by passing on an act of good will. These individual acts—though seemingly small—have mighty consequences in their ripple effect. Power, therefore, exists on a flexible spectrum.
