ARE YOU AWAKE OR JUST WOKE?

Is Your “Lens” Too Narrow?

The Definition of “Wokeness”

The first time I heard the term “woke” used in conversation, I was offended by the grammar.  I do a lot of editing, and in proper English, you can’t be “woke.”  I looked it up.  Here is the dictionary definition:

“Aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice.)”  Merriam Webster

The secondary definition is “the past tense and past participle of WAKE.” This is the definition most of us know.

What’s interesting about the definition is the lack of clarity and the implication that someone other than the dictionary will define the relevant words.  What are “the important facts and issues?”  I doubt there is a person in this country that isn’t aware of a lot of facts and issues around this subject, but are they the right ones?  Who gets to decide?

Being Awake

Wouldn’t you rather be awake than woke?  In my definition, awake means open to new information on key subjects that affect us all, making it possible to form your own opinions and be able to back them with evidence.  In psychology, there is a term, “lens.” which describes how much and what kind of information you take into account as you proceed through your day.  For many of us, we have a very narrow-band lens when we get ready in the morning. These activities have become habits and require little or no thought.

Aside from this, we have a choice of how we face the day.  Do you see the world as threatening and dangerous?  If so, you have engaged your amygdala and see everything as a fight-or-flight situation.  Or do you wake refreshed, looking forward to the wonderful things that you will experience today?  It’s pretty clear that when you wear the second set of lenses, you will be happier, calmer and more likely to spot the opportunities and joy the day presents.  Not only that, when you aren’t trapped in your primitive brain, you are more likely to express empathy and kindness, even as you expect the best of the people you meet. 

The Important Distinction

If you strive to be “woke,” you’ll find yourself looking to others for what you do, how you feel and what you say.  The rules are poorly defined and ever-changing, but the punishment for violating them is harsh.  Anyone or anything that can be defined as a “victim” has to be treated with kid gloves, especially in language.  The latest joke is that shark attacks should no longer be defined as such; they are “shark interactions.”  If you’ve been attacked, shouldn’t your feelings matter?  Wokeness is a trap, ceding your power to others.  That’s a tough way to live.

Living awake instead actually results in better treatment of your fellow man.  When you start with a positive lens each day, you also believe the best of your fellow man, until proven wrong.  You treat people as equals and strive to interact with them in an upbeat and friendly manner.  Expecting the best of others often brings out the best in them as well.  As an example, an “awake” teacher would arrive at school expecting that every student has a chance to learn today and will do well.  That expectation alone—the power that it holds—brings out great work from every student. 

Living awake is also more fun.  It doesn’t mean ignoring bad things that are happening. In fact, with more empathy, you’re likely to intervene when people are being discriminated against, but only when this makes sense and you can do something.  But you are much less likely to hurt people intentionally.  You start each day smiling looking for those five positive things that happen to you, and end each day fulfilled.   I doubt that is true of the perpetually angry.

Skip the Power Struggle

When you let others tell you how to feel, what to care about and what to say, you give up your power.  We’re intelligent animals; we can make cogent decisions for ourselves.  Stop being “cancelled,” or feeling guilt because you aren’t trashing cities in BLM protests or worrying constantly about what words you can and can’t use.  Own your power to be a good person on your terms, not those of the progressive left.  The more people adopt being awake, the better life will be for everyone around them.