Just like Colorado aspens or giant California redwoods need each other for support and to survive, so do people.

Science now substantiates what we intuitively know: It feels good to be part of a team effort. Whether it's working on a group project for school, being part of a team that undertakes a business deal, or participating in a team sport. When you have a shared goal you can go to greater heights of creativity and success. According to a recent article, studies "found that the endorphin response is far greater when working in teams than it is for the same accomplishment when working solo." The benefits of camaraderie and collaboration are undeniable.
    
Working alone and being adversarial leads to feelings of isolation and alienation. Working together to reach a common goal fosters joy, love, and peace. Love because you feel that connection as you work together and collaborate. Joy because each member is contributing his or her best to the joint project. And peace because there is strength in numbers when you are part of a community.

Nowhere is this more obvious than in a family that has each others' back. Each can go out in the world knowing the security that exists back home. Each person knows they are equally valued. They collectively embody the lovely truth "Your viewpoints and needs are as important as mine," and as a result, each feels worthy and empowered to be their best selves.

The opposite of collaboration is competition. It's based on who can exert the most power and win. But the fruits of victory by over-running others are often bitter sweet. It does nothing for the heart or for the good of the whole.

Hence, our political situation today.

In order to reap the rewards of collaboration, we need to have a strategy to resolve differences in a way that honors all involved. That's an area where Attitude Reconstruction shines.