Obamania

I am quietly bemused by the current Obamania (mania over Barack Obama) running rife. Recently, I have been privy to a number of small groups of conversants in Jamaica endorsing Obama – “I like him” – and extolling the virtues of his stated policies, his charisma and his simple likeability. These are serious conversations, with the participants sharing great knowledge of his and his opponent’s positions, virtues, failings, background, experience and history. Clearly, they have spent many an hour glued to the American television networks! I note that the conversations are peppered with “we” and “I support” and “my choice is” and “I prefer” as if the participants are United States citizens who will be voting. Indeed, most of the conversations I have heard have been among non-US citizens, who have no vote in November, and who have no influence on the outcome.

Or do they?

For it occurs to me that the act of voting is a focusing of energy for a particular outcome – in this case the election of the President of the United States. How different is that from focusing our mental energy on the same outcome but without the action of voting? Could it have the same result? Could we here in Jamaica and indeed elsewhere in the world, simply by focusing our thoughts on an outcome actually affect the outcome? Of COURSE! We do that every day! We know that our thoughts are most powerful. When backed by conviction and belief, they literally move mountains, stop hurricanes, quell fires, heal illness, create massive wealth and any other thing that we choose to think.

And that is the lesson – yes, focus our thoughts on the type of leadership that Obama seems to represent (or whoever you choose to focus your thoughts on). But more importantly, when the election is over, let us remember to lead our own lives. For no matter who is President of the United States, or Prime Minister of Jamaica, it is up to each of us to choose the life we want to live. It is up to us to choose to express ourselves and live our lives with magnificence, grace, grandeur, humility and love. That is Obama’s message – “You can do it”. Yes, we each individually can. And that has nothing to do with politics.