There is an attitude of scarcity in Hawai‘i election season campaigning which is very distressing to me. We mostly hear it connected to those “ballot initiatives” which are proposed amendments to the State Constitution or County Charter(s) — proposals we can vote on.
In that campaigning, whether by candidate or special interest group, we are essentially hearing that something may be the right thing to do, but it’s too hard administratively, making its rightness (Pono) irrelevant. Ouch! When something is wrong, do we really want to take the easier way out? Do we have that little confidence in our own abilities, that we cannot cope, survive, and emerge the stronger?
Another facet of this, is when we hear opinions of what should be done for the middle and/or lower classes versus the privileged, or for public sector versus the private sector, or for this community group versus another one. There is way too much us versus them. Whatever way we hear these things, they mean that an attitude of scarcity is in play — i.e. There is not enough to go around for all of us.
In both of these fearful themes — for that’s what they are, the voices of fear — people throw their better sense of reason out the window, and vote to protect their own and ignore the greater good. They ignore the values of true Aloha, Mālama, and ‘Ohana, for all are abundant values, and somehow justify another version in their restrictions. Auwe.
We are better than that.
We have much more abundance available to us than we may think we do.
Scarcity = Short term thinking.
Abundance = Long term thinking.
You must remember, that life goes on when the election is over… if a change is not made toward better, a change to redirect our efforts no matter how difficult that change might be, whatever wrong which exists will continue. Beyond simply continuing, it will compound itself unchecked.
Is that a risk you are willing to take until our next election?
I am NOT saying to vote for change no matter what.
I AM saying to be careful you don’t “leave well enough alone” when the status quo actually isn’t well at all!
Vote with courage, and vote for all of us, with Kākou, the value of inclusiveness in mind. I ask you, as an Alaka‘i Manager and a leader in your community, to be a voice of reason, and opt for Palena ‘ole – our Key Concept 9 in Managing with Aloha cultures. Trust in the certainty that we can progress with future-forward thinking, and stewardship of our greater good.
In short, Palena ‘ole is the Expectation of Abundance. It is positive expectancy, and confidence in who we are as a whole society of unlimited capacity:
Key 9. PALENA ‘OLE:
Palena ‘ole is the Hawaiian concept of unlimited capacity. This is your exponential growth stage, and about seeing your bigger and better leadership dreams come to fruition. Think “Legacy” and “Abundance” and welcome the coaching of PONO into your life as the value it is. We create our abundance by honoring human capacity; physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual. When we seek inclusive, full engagement and optimal productivity, any scarcity will be banished. Growth is welcomed and change is never feared; enthusiasm flourishes. PALENA ‘OLE is an everyday attitude in an ‘Ohana in Business, assuming that growth and abundance is always present as an opportunity. Given voice, Palena ‘ole sounds like this: “Don’t limit yourself! Why settle for ‘either/or’ when we can go for the ‘and’ and be better?”
Site category for Key 9: Palena ‘ole
If I may suggest a start in your further reading: Palena ‘ole Positivity is Hō‘imi— look for it.
Updates: November 5, 2014
Election 2014 now over, I felt compelled to write 2 follow-ups to this article on my Tumblr:
- Grassroots Values-Based Voting CAN Defeat Bigger Bankrolls
- Molokai Has the Most to Lose, But Least Say in GMO Debate