Photo Courtesy of Rula Sibai on Unsplash
Election day is almost here. Soon, the ads, postcards and emails will stop. But what comes next, we don’t know, can’t know.
As Tuesday draws closer, many of us are getting more and more anxious. What will happen and what will the consequences be? Again, we just don’t know.
Our beautiful, creative minds, so rich and fertile with imagination, can literally scare ourselves with scenarios that may or may not happen.
While we wait for the results, here are some tips that can help:
1. Take a break from the news. The pollsters don’t know anything more than we do. Neither do the pundits. On Tuesday, the early returns are going to shift up and down and if you follow them, you will toggle between dopamine hits and despair. It’s exhausting. Skip it.
2. Be patient. We may not know the results of the presidential race for several days after the election. The swing state of Pennsylvania, for example, prohibits counting mail-in ballots until Election Day. It won’t be over until it’s over.
3. Breathe deeply and be kind. Emotions are running high. We’ve been told that this is the most consequential election of our lifetimes, and it may well be. That’s a scary thing to contemplate. But understand that when our bodies feel under threat, our inhibitions may go down. It’s easier to bicker with loved ones or to react to others. Slow inhales and even slower exhales will help you reset. Set a timer for one minute and breathe deeply, inhaling to the count of four, exhaling to the count of six. Notice how much calmer you feel.
4. Distract yourself. Go for walks outside, preferably in nature. Play Uno or Bananagrams with friends. Watch television shows that are light but absorbing. “Bridgerton” and “The Good Place” have interesting characters, plot twists, enough silliness to be fun, and engaging enough to distract a worried mind. The Martha Stewart documentary on Netflix is an interesting look at a cultural icon who reinvented herself after a stint in prison.
5. Feel your feelings. All of them. We are entitled to a full orchestra of feelings and we must accept and access them all to be whole. If we push down our anger or anxiety, we also cut off our access to our positive feelings. It’s exhausting! Email me for a free worksheet on how to effectively process your feelings. (terry.demeo@gmail.com)
6. Look for magic and joy. Kids and pets do this naturally. Watch your cat contentedly take a nap in the sun. Really notice your dog’s joy at dinnertime or when you return home. Watch children find the magic in driveway pebbles. Take a walk outside and marvel at the sky, the changing leaves, the light.
7. Stay in the light. No matter what happens, the most important thing we can do is to keep our hearts open and connect with the love inside us. If we shut down or stay angry or despairing, we’re less able to cope with life, support our loved ones, and work for change.
Soon enough, the election will be over. How do you want to feel then? Let’s arrive in the best possible emotional and physical state we possibly can.