Tensions are high right now.  Voter turn out is most likely going to break records this fall for the presidential nomination.  People are angry and scared.

There’s no ignoring the fact that the political climate right now is not good.  Some people are convinced this is the most divided we’ve ever seen our nation.  It’s hard to argue.  Everyone seems to be affected.

But some people are really feeling it.  It’s effecting their mood, their day, their outlook on their future and the future of others.  They’re very angry or very scared…or both.  There was even a recent article about the increase of people seeking therapy for their reaction to the current political climate.

If you’re someone who’s feeling affected by this to the point it’s interfering with your everyday life, mood, and overall being, here are 5 things you can do to get back to feeling better.

 

5 things you can do to relax this election year

1. Get off of Facebook, political radio, and the comments sections to political articles.

Why?  If you’re looking for dissenting viewpoints from people you don’t agree with, you’ll find it here. Not only that but you’ll find people who ignore any form of social politeness.  They are purposefully trying to get people to react to their comments.

Don’t buy into it.  You won’t win by engaging with them. Polarizing radio programs?  They want you to feel fear and anger.  It drives ratings. Which leads me to this…

2. Get out and meet new people.

Strike up friendly conversation with people you usually don’t affiliate with.  You might be surprised how much you have in common with you.  Stereotypes work both ways.

When we actually take time to get to meet different people, we have a chance to see that there’s more to others than our casual assumptions of who they are, what they believe in, and what their life is like.

Check out a farmers market, talk to a veteran, see what actually goes on at gun ranges, go to cultural festival, go to a church service if you aren’t religious, or meet a new neighbor.

I know, for me, when I was in the Army serving in Iraq the people I met there made a lasting effect on how I viewed that whole situation.  The Iraqis, the Kurds, the Turks, they were all just people.  Just like you and me.

Staying walled off in your current worldview and assuming you know people based on the media’s opinions or through social media is not going to help your current feelings on the world.

3. Identify what you are actually seeking from this election and act on it.

Concerned about the planet or social equality?  Worried that your financial or employment future is in danger?  Fearful that the country is turning into a place of division and hate?  What’s stopping you from doing something that is in line with your values?  Why do you have to wait for a presidential election to feel better about these issues?

I watched a documentary about Ina May with my wife a couple of years ago.  Ina May is a leader in the home birth movement and does incredible work with her practice and her outreach in empowering women that want to have their children delivered at home.

What struck me about Ina May was that she is a powerful figure who is incredibly kind hearted and driven. She doesn’t need anger and fear to be a part of her work.  She just does her work.  And is helping change the world by just being who she is.  Needless to say, the homebirthing movement gets a lot of criticism and resistance in our culture.  She doesn’t need anger or people’s acceptance of her views to have incredible impact.

So why can’t you express your actions through your values?  Why do you need to have negative feelings overshadow you doing the things you believe in?  Just do them.  Don’t wait for permission. Don’t get caught up in waiting for other people to change their minds to the way you think.  They won’t.

And if you are already living your values, congratulate yourself and be aware you are doing all you can. Just by you being you, you are changing the world.  You don’t need to shoulder all the things that aren’t really yours to change.

4. Resist the thoughts that “things used to be better”.

“We need to get America back to what it used to be!”  When?  The 80’s?  There was terrible music then and no internet.  The 70’s?  Vietnam.  Before that were World Wars, a great depression, the Civil War, widespread disease and a lack of medical care, and on and on.

This country is capable of doing amazing things.  Regardless of who gets elected president.  One person can’t save this nation.  Just as one person won’t wreck it.  This is a nation made of the people. It’s not the politicians or laws that make this country what it is.  It’s the people, the innovation, the creativity, the spirit of the citizens.

5. Take time to enjoy what you love to do.

It’s not selfish to do what you enjoy.  When you are happier, the people around you are happier.  You can’t do good work in this world running on empty.  Take care of yourself.  Enjoy your life.  Spend time with your friends and family.

The people that make lasting positive change do so from a place of positive energy.  Not hate.  Not fear. Not anger.  The happier you are, the more lasting impact you’ll have on others.

You don’t need to be angry or scared to be effective in making change.  Don’t allow politicians or other people to tell you otherwise.  

We’ve all got a role to play.  For ourselves.  For our families and communities.  That role is extremely important.  And you don’t have to feel obligated to be or feel more than you are.

How you feel about life is really important.   Don’t let a single person living in the White House give you the permission to let you feel how you want to feel about life.  Make that decision for yourself.  And you can do that right now.