Strong Beliefs Without Division: Why Cancel Culture Isn’t the Answer
In today’s world, it feels like we’re walking on eggshells. Say the wrong thing, like the “wrong” post, or even admit to enjoying the “wrong” movie, and suddenly, you’re at risk of being judged, shamed, or written off. It’s not just happening on one side of the political spectrum either—it’s everywhere.
The rise of cancel culture and extreme boycotts has created an environment where people feel they have to constantly choose sides. If you don’t agree 100% with someone or something, the expectation is that you should cut ties completely—whether that’s with a company, a celebrity, or even a friend. But here’s the truth: life is rarely black and white, and our relationships and personal interests shouldn’t be defined by someone else’s outrage.
Let’s talk about why it’s okay to stand strong in your beliefs without giving in to the pressure to divide.
The Problem With “All or Nothing” Thinking
The root of cancel culture is an “all or nothing” mindset: if you don’t agree with me, you’re against me. If you don’t boycott what I’m boycotting, then you must support something terrible. This kind of thinking leaves no room for nuance, and it quickly turns disagreement into hostility.
But life isn’t that simple. You might enjoy Disney movies for their creativity and childhood nostalgia, while also disagreeing with some of the company’s decisions. You might value your friendships even though your friends vote differently than you. And that’s okay.
The danger of “all or nothing” thinking is that it forces us to shut down entire parts of our lives just to prove a point. In the end, we’re the ones who suffer—not the companies or people we’re trying to “cancel.”
Example: Disney and the Boycott Mentality
Disney is a great example because it’s been in the crosshairs of boycotts from both the left and the right over the years. One side gets upset over representation in a movie. The other side gets upset over corporate stances on political issues. Suddenly, social media is flooded with calls to cancel Disney+.
But here’s the reality: Disney isn’t making creative decisions based on individual boycotts. They’re watching the numbers. If a movie performs poorly, they’ll adjust. If it succeeds, they’ll make more like it.
So, does it make sense to punish yourself by refusing to watch a movie you would otherwise enjoy just because someone else says you shouldn’t? Not really. You have the freedom to make your own choice. If you don’t like a particular film, don’t watch it. But if you love Disney parks, music, or classics like Dumbo, why throw away the joy those things bring you and your children?
And this is where it hits harder: when adults give in to cancel culture pressure, kids feel the impact too. Imagine telling your children they can’t watch the movies they love, not because they did anything wrong, but because you’re boycotting the company behind them. Or driving twenty minutes out of the way just to avoid a coffee shop you used to love—all because someone on social media decided it was suddenly “unacceptable.”
The end result? Your whole household suffers. Kids lose meaningful experiences and lessons from stories that still matter. Families lose time and convenience. And everyone ends up carrying stress that didn’t need to be there in the first place.
Division Starts Small
What’s fascinating is how quickly division starts—and how small the spark can be. You might see one post on social media about boycotting a brand. You feel pressure to go along, because you don’t want to be judged. Before long, you’re not just avoiding one product—you’re judging other people who still use it.
The cycle becomes self-perpetuating: disagreement leads to separation, separation leads to judgment, and judgment fuels more outrage. Suddenly, people are divided over things that don’t really matter in the big picture.
When we constantly feed into this cycle, we lose the ability to connect with people who think differently. And that’s dangerous, because diversity of thought is what helps us grow, expand, and challenge ourselves in healthy ways.
Strong Beliefs Don’t Require Exclusion
Standing strong in your beliefs doesn’t mean excluding everyone who disagrees with you. It means knowing what you value and living it out, while respecting that others may see things differently.
For example:
- You can support animal rights without attacking friends who eat meat.
- You can be passionate about environmental issues without cutting off people who drive SUVs.
- You can vote for one political party and still respect and love people who vote for another.
Strength comes from confidence, not control. When you’re secure in what you believe, you don’t need to convince everyone else to agree with you. You can hold your ground without burning bridges.
Friendships in the Age of Division
Perhaps the saddest part of cancel culture is how it impacts personal relationships. Families have stopped talking to each other. Long-time friends have drifted apart. Social circles have fractured—not because of personal betrayal, but because of differences in opinion.
Think about that for a moment. Is it really worth losing someone you love over a vote they cast or a movie they watched?
Of course, there are situations where a disagreement reveals deeper values that truly can’t coexist. But in most cases, the disagreement is just one part of a bigger picture. You don’t have to stop being friends with someone because you don’t see eye to eye on every issue. Friendships are built on shared history, trust, and care—not identical beliefs.
How to Push Back Against Division
So, how do we resist this culture of division without compromising our values? Here are a few practical steps:
1. Decide for Yourself
Before you join a boycott or jump on a trend, pause. Ask yourself: Does this truly matter to me, or am I just going along with the crowd? If it matters to you personally, act on it. But if it doesn’t, give yourself permission to sit it out.
2. Separate Issues From Identity
Disagreeing with a company, celebrity, or friend on one issue doesn’t mean they—or you—are defined entirely by that disagreement. People are complex. So are organizations. Resist the urge to reduce someone to a single choice or opinion.
3. Choose Connection Over Control
When you feel tempted to divide, ask: What will I lose by cutting this off? Sometimes, it’s healthier to keep the connection, even if you don’t agree. Connection allows dialogue. Division ends it.
4. Use Your Wallet, Not Your Anger
If you don’t like a product, don’t buy it. If you disagree with a movie, don’t watch it. That’s how companies understand consumer preferences—through money, not social media outrage. Quiet decisions often speak louder than public boycotts.
5. Respect Boundaries Without Building Walls
It’s okay to set boundaries. Maybe you don’t want to discuss politics with certain friends because it always ends in an argument. That’s healthy. But boundaries should be about preserving relationships, not destroying them.
The Ripple Effect on Households
When we give in to performative boycotts, it’s not just our lives that change—it’s our families’ too. Children pick up on our stress and our rules, even when they don’t make sense to them. They lose out on movies, books, or experiences that could have been fun or educational, all because of someone else’s outrage.
Something as simple as driving twenty minutes further for coffee, avoiding a theme park your kids have dreamed of, or saying no to a family movie night over a boycott—you might feel like you’re making a stand, but your household is the one who pays the price.
Being strong in your beliefs doesn’t require you to inconvenience your whole life to please someone else’s sense of morality. Your strength is in choosing your own path—not in following Suzie on Facebook who insists you should.
The Freedom to Enjoy What You Enjoy
At the end of the day, it’s your life. If you enjoy Disney, enjoy Disney. If you like a certain band, listen to them. If you connect with a particular hobby, embrace it. Don’t let other people’s outrage dictate your happiness.
The moment we start making choices based on fear of judgment rather than genuine conviction, we lose ourselves. Life is too short to give that kind of power away.
Conclusion: We Can Do Better
Cancel culture thrives on division, but division doesn’t have to define us. We can hold strong beliefs without forcing them on others. We can disagree without cutting people off. We can enjoy the things we love without apologizing for it.
The real test of strength isn’t how loudly we protest or how many people we block—it’s how confidently we stand in our values while still extending respect to those around us.
Disagreement is inevitable. Division doesn’t have to be.
If you are looking for ways to cope or just need to talk please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly—here, or by email at shell@wealthwwithincoaching.com.