Beyond the Politics of Contempt

The morning after Election Day, Americans awoke with a variety of emotions—ranging from jubilant and relieved, to despondent and uncertain. In the weeks that followed, friendships have dissolved and family relationships became strained.  

How are you being affected by events in our nation? Are you losing sleep after watching the national news? Is your health and well-being being affected? Are you finding you can’t talk with your brother-in-law or other relatives, friends, and neighbors? Do you want to do something to improve your health, relationships, and our country -- but aren’t sure what? 

In our upcoming book, Beth Malow, Becky Robinson, and I make the case for embracing hope in these challenging times. We emphasize the importance of going beyond an “us vs. them” framework toward better ways to think about others. We include (1) skills for greater self-awareness of how events and your reactions to them can impact your health; (2) practical ways to manage difficult conversations and mend relationships torn apart by politics; and (3) actions to rebuild a national culture of kindness, dignity, and respect.  

Thank you to those who completed our book title survey. I am excited that we have selected Beyond the Politics of Contempt: Practical Steps to Build Positive Relationships in Divided Times. We are planning to have it published on July 4, 2025 and already have a special book cover design that we are enthusiastic to share.   

You can see the book cover in our “Together Across Differences” newsletter https://togethernow.substack.com/ where we will publish updates and articles related to the book. I encourage you to subscribe. 

We each have an extraordinary opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. Don’t underestimate your impact!