Choose Love and create a safer, and more loving world! Scarlett Lewis discusses the #NFL’s decision to change to the end zone messaging to Choose Love! It’s much more effective to choose positive messaging to make an actionable impact of social change. Think about what you think about. Change negative, hurtful or hateful thoughts to loving thoughts and create a ripple effect of love.
“If every one of you changed the lives of just 10 people — and each one of those folks changed the lives of another 10 people — just 10 — then in five generations — 125 years —[you] will have changed the lives of 800 million people.” – Admiral William McRaven
In a world where society grapples with profound issues such as racism, drug abuse, and violence, the messages we choose to propagate play pivotal roles in shaping the collective mindset. The phrase Choose Love, a simple yet profound mantra inspired by a young victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy, Jesse Lewis, serves as a beacon of hope and action. It contrasts sharply with terms like “end racism” that highlight what we oppose rather than the virtues we aspire to embody.
Historically, initiatives like the “war on drugs” and “anti-bullying” campaigns have underscored confrontation rather than cultivation. According to a study published in The Journal of Social Issues, negative framing often incites resistance rather than participation, stalling positive outcomes. Programs focused on what must end can inadvertently embed defiance or apathy, lacking the drive for constructive action. Conversely, promoting affirmative values, such as love and empathy, encourages behaviors that dismantle the very issues these programs aim to eradicate.
Choose Love offers a refreshing alternative. Inspired by Jesse Lewis’ courageous last act pof saving 9 of his first grade classmates, and his written words of “Nurturing Healing Love,” this movement propels us towards proactive engagement. Positive messaging like this creates an environment where love and understanding flourish, thereby combating systemic issues indirectly but effectively. The positive reinforcement encourages personal responsibility and collaborative action, leading to meaningful societal change.
Evidence supporting the efficacy of positive messaging is plentiful. A study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that positive psychological interventions generally lead to enhanced well-being and heightened motivation among individuals engaging with them. We know that many of the campaigns targeting one side or the other with fearful messaging and demands have not been effective and might be exacerbating the problems they want to stop. Love is greater than fear. What we resist, persists.
Furthermore, in educational contexts, in addition to instructing our children merely to “run, hide, fight,” instilling core skills like resilience, and effective communication defuses potential threats before they manifest. Giving children tools to manage pain and adversity promotes growth, fostering environments where compassion overrides conflict.
As we scrutinize the language driving our social movements, it’s imperative to advocate for messages like Choose Love. This mantra, rooted in a young boy’s ultimate sacrifice for his classmates, implores us to embrace courage and compassion as catalysts for change. Jesse Lewis’s legacy reminds us that every individual, regardless of age or circumstance, holds the power to foster positive action.
We all possess the courage Jesse demonstrated—a courage not just to imagine a world devoid of racism, hatred, or violence, but to actively contribute to its realization. Choosing Love invites us to be part of the solution, to transcend the limitations of fear and prejudice, ultimately crafting an enlightened society that values every human being.
#NFL #ChooseLove #Love
