The Lightbulb

Moving Others toward Change.

I remember sitting proudly, explaining my analysis of the psychodynamics in a case presentation. “Yes, but remember,” my supervisor said gently, “the lightbulb has to go off in his head, not yours. “

In one sentence he’d defined the essence of therapy, and the lesson I had not yet learned. Knowing what is wrong is not the same as being able to change it. And learning where to find the switch in each person’s psyche is the real challenge.

I think of this often as we look at the political change we seek to make.

Is there a light switch in DJT’s head? Sadly, I believe not.

Because of the combination of narcissism and emotional immaturity that drive his behavior, we cut that switch when we re-elected him. He has the power he wants. He does not care what voters think of him anymore. And especially in this moment of celebratory vengeance, the pleasure of hurting others is his primary motivator. I don’t believe there is much we can do as American voters that will move him.

That does not mean we have no power.

The House and Senate are filled with individuals supporting DJT for reasons that differ widely. Some are ignorant, delighted to feel suddenly “appreciated” as leaders, and drunk on power they truly do not understand. They do whatever they are told to do to stay there. They are loyal MAGA, addicted to the fantasy of DJT’s promises.

Some are arrogant, committed to a cult, a religion, a cultural way of life they believe is “uniquely American” and must be forced on the rest of us. They believe in a supernatural or overriding goal that makes them blind. They are the crusaders.

Some are simply greedy. Of varying intelligence, they share one central theme: If it makes me money, it is good. Some are billionaires, others businesspeople barely making it, but convinced that government has kept them from the wealth they are entitled to pursue without interference.

In these differing assumptions, beliefs and values, we can find those switches.

Political operatives who argue that “until poor people hurt” they will not change their minds sound cruel, but there is something accurate in that reasoning. The ignorant have been promised recognition and respect. But if that comes with no services for their children in school, no social security for their parents, their representative in Congress will begin to feel the pressure. Policies that hurt poor people are light switches for Congress, if only because they will not get you re-elected

The arrogant, even the most religiously devout, are squirming now. They wanted abortion to disappear, but without the unpleasantness of women bleeding out in parking lots, and the GOP having no plans at all for the complexity of life-and -death medical decisions that routinely occur in pregnancy. They don’t all agree with the extremists who would put women at the mercy of any-and-all pregnancies to return them to second-class citizenship where they cannot compete with a white male patriarchy that is losing power. Deportation, LGBTQ rights, even the question of states rights provide fertile ground for Christianity and common sense to be in conflict. Christian values, all of them, are light switches.

The greedy, especially the smart ones, will soon understand that economic chaos has secondary costs, even if their taxes are gone, their regulations reduced. Ethics may not matter. But the side effects of an upended global economy will. Some may be sufficiently agile and amoral to work around the chaos, Most will begin to see that financial success is tethered to systems that work reliably, predictably. This is a light switch we need to highlight, and global responses to tariffs will help.

One cautionary note. Shame rarely creates an atmosphere for change. Empathy, curiosity, and seeing the world though their eyes is a far better place to begin. Finding a place of respect lays the foundation for asking people to be vulnerable, to consider that they are wrong, to move toward change. I became a better therapist when I learned to sow doubt without shame.

Find the issue that might turn the light on. Might make them doubt what they know, question what they believe… are certain will work. Better yet, find the goodness in where they want to go and challenge only how they are getting there.

The international political world is beginning to understand DJT’s weakness. He cannot stand to be ignored, minimized, or made irrelevant on the world stage. Being defined as useless is far worse than being feared. But as long as Congress will not say No to him, other countries have no reason to treat him otherwise.

When Congress begins to demand, to push, to refuse to rubber stamp the worst version of every policy, America can begin to be relevant again. And maybe, just maybe, we can turn this ship around.