Donald Trump—a boorish bully, a fraud, a racist, a sexist, a liar—the list in the media is long. Hillary Clinton is not spared from criticism either. There have never been such bad candidates in a US election campaign – or so they say. How do you see Trump? Is he the presidential candidate who will lead the world to ruin if he comes to power? Who wakes up in the morning and devours children for breakfast? And is Clinton the "woman with two faces"? A deceitful and power-hungry witch?
Incidentally, before Ronald Reagan was elected, there were fears that the world would end if he became president. Today, he is considered one of the best American presidents. Winfried Kretschmann, the Green Party minister-president, was vilified as the gravedigger of Württemberg's small and medium-sized businesses and the local automotive industry. And today? He is revered by precisely this leadership elite.
Do you think I'm advocating for Trump here? Gotcha! Do you think I'm advocating for Clinton? Wrong again. What I'm advocating here is a clear view of things. The current hype surrounding the two is merely serving as an example to me of how distorted perceptions can be triggered—in this case, by media bombardment.
But it's not just the media that influences our perception: when things go wrong, leader literally put employees in the firing line. Since someone has to be to blame, someone is portrayed as bad and served up as a scapegoat on a silver platter until the leader really does see leader in a bad light. Are you familiar with this?
Are you immune to such distortions?
Are you one of those people who claim to see the world with a clear perspective? Be careful! As much as many people like to claim this, such clouding of the senses occurs more often than you might think. This is because everyone looks at the world through very specific mental lenses or is influenced by physical conditions. It takes a lot of practice and reflection to develop a clear, sharp perspective. It is like a sword that must be sharpened again and again.
Therefore: Always be aware of what influences you!
This is neither good nor bad, right nor wrong. Be brave and look closely at where things become foggy for you. Sharpen your senses and don't let external, loud influences reinforce your own prejudices and fears. Ask yourself every day what perspective you are looking at things from. Because those who see clearly make better decisions. And that's how you become the best you can be.
