Inspiring Civic Participation during Election Season

Dr. Laurie Santos, host of The Happiness Lab podcast, recently posted an inspiring episode about politics in the U.S. She and her co-host Dr. Jamil Zaki talk about the exhausted majority, who are left feeling frustrated and helpless (autonomy) by a hyper-partisan political system. Too often that majority is disappointed by politicians failing their constituents such as during the Flint water crisis of 2014. Santos and Zaki tell the story of Katie Fahey, who started a grassroots movement to end gerrymandering in Michigan in response to the crisis.

Whether an exhausted majority actually exists is debatable. Regardless, Fahey’s story is a great example of civic activism as a path toward happiness. Her grassroots effort provides hope and inspiration for thousands of others (autonomy). Furthermore, volunteers felt united in a shared cause, connected to their community (social), and undoubtedly they felt a boost to their growth needs as they overcame a significant challenge.

Check out the episode if you could use a feel-good story during another heated election season, and let me know what political stories are inspiring you.