It would be nice to believe that the brightest and best of us are those we elect to represent us in government. It would be wonderful if our nation’s leaders were true exemplars; those who would inspire our emulation as well as our confidence.

The fact is, the only things our nation’s leaders have been inspiring lately are laughter and anger.

There is an ancient spiritual tenet that states “as above, so below.” This means that whatever is happening on one level is happening on other levels.

I am finding this particularly true right now as I speak with with an larger-than-usual number of people who are having difficult times getting along and working with their co-workers.

Many people seem to be feeling stuck in their own beliefs about right and wrong. They are unwilling to compromise. Some feel that the ability to compromise is a moral weakness.

Even worse, they forget the big picture. They forget that they are paid to do a job and need to find a way to do it even if they are angry at their coworkers, even if they don’t like their coworkers and even if they don’t agree with their coworkers.

Does that sound like anyone we know?

Sometimes the lessons we learn from our exemplars are not lessons of how to be, they are examples of how not to be.

On an energetic or spiritual level we may have some power here. Energy can work from the bottom to the top as easily as it works from top to bottom.

If we all try really hard to get along, make compromises and get our jobs done the energy of compromise and responsibility might trickle right on up to the top. As above, so below – or vice versa.