Welcome to my blog on Positive Politics! I fretted over this post for some time, until I realized that the best place to start is why I’m writing this at all.
By training, I am a psychologist working in the area of maximizing brain function and personal development. My primary tools are neurofeedback and positive psychology. You can read more about these on my website (www.BrainandHealth.com) and Neurofeedback blog (Neurofeedback on the Brain). ButI’m not here to flog either of those.
I’m here because for some time I have wanted to find a path for myself to be engaged and involved with our political evolution, particularly in Canada, where I live.
I believe that the political process is a wonderful tool for representing the disparate viewpoints of a community – whether that community is a local group, a province, or the entire country. But I’m concerned that the way we have been doing politics is not leading us where we want to go, that it is often squandering the passion, talents, and health of both our representatives and our communities, and that we can learn to do it better.
So this is my first foray into expressing my thoughts, beliefs, ideas, and tools for how we can approach the political system differently – how we can start to create a politics based on positive principles and learn to be proud of our political system and our involvement with it.
How do I intend to go about this?
Well, this is my first step. I intend this blog to be a collection of information, research summaries, tips, and commentary on “Positive Politics”. I invite your feedback, your comments, and your suggestions for content.
Later, you’ll start to see some web pages develop on this site that will grow into a web site of materials and tools to empower and promote “Positive Politicans”.
In the works and to arrive soon….a self-assessment for potential Positive Politicians. This self-assessment workbook is designed for individuals, particularly women, who are contemplating — no, that’s too serious — who are playing with the idea of getting involved in politics themselves. It walks you through what to think about, how to collect your thoughts to share them with others, and hopefully guides you to making a decision about your involvement that lets you commit to and feel good about it — no matter what decision you make. It is not in any way intended to be a “campaign school” replacement — it’s about you, not the parties or “strategy”.
My Approach
I just want to be as clear as possible about where I’m coming from.
First, there is a huge literature out there on what is called “Positive Psychology”. The ideas behind this literature are that we have focused too much on what goes wrong with people and not enough on what goes right. We tend to be in “problem-solving” mode most of the time rather than “enhancing what’s right” mode. Yet the research tells us that focusing on and enhancing what’s right moves virtually all of us much closer to where we want to be and to whom we want to be. So I’ll be sharing how these principles and research findings apply to the political process and to the way politicians might function best.
Second, I have some thoughts I will share about the way politicians approach campaigning and governing. There are a number of lessons to be learned from the field of marketing and promotion of services that I believe apply directly to political activities. I call this approach “Political Entrepreneurship” and I’ll be writing here and on the website-to-come about how it can be applied to promote Positive Politics.
Finally, as a neurofeedback (also known as brain-based biofeedback) trainer, I regularly experience how neurofeedback can be a tool for enhancing personal health and one’s personal evolution – always good things to have as a politician… 
So I’ll also come at Positive Politics from the perspective of how we are “hard-wired”, sharing how our brains can impact how we respond to politics, the “issues”, and our world – decision-making, perceptions, emotional responses, etc. etc. I’ll share evidence that we can change how our brains respond, either indirectly through the use of positive psychology strategies or directly through neurofeedback.
So– what do you think?
I look forward to my postings here and to hearing what you think about what I have to say.
Thanks for joining me -
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