Keeping Your Peace During the Election
This election in particular is divisive and anxiety provoking. Many people are still dealing with fractured relationships from the 2016 and 2020 elections, and it feels like deja vu on the eve of the 2024 election. During this time, protecting your own peace is crucial and I have laid out some strategies to help you do so.
Be mindful of consumption: This morning I was at the gym and there was CNN and Fox news playing on TVs next to each other. The election map looked completely different. Neither outlet cited sources, and yet many people consume news channels this time of year in excess. I recommend checking in with the news during times where you can simultaneously fact check for yourself, or listen and read more credible sources. For me, I listen to NPR as I find it easier to listen to my news with no imagery, and I find this source to be more credible. Some argue it has more of a liberal bias, which is probably true, but I find that their information is cited and mostly factual.
Timeline matters: Consuming election results from the moment polls close can be maddening. Early closures historically show republican lead and democrats tend to creep in during the later hours. Mostly due to time zones, and geographic locations. Be intentional and realistic if watching start to finish is good for your mental health.
Take care of yourself extra hard: Drink extra water, run an extra mile or do something that will prepare you for potential disappointment proactively. Using coping skills proactively and trying to remind yourself of what you can control is imperative. And this leads to my next point:
Remember what you can control: Much to the dismay of a particular candidate, you cannot control the election outcome. You also cannot control who your uncle or neighbor votes for. You can only control who you vote for, and what culture you create in your family. I like to focus on the values my husband and I are instilling in our children, and we talk in age appropriate truths, about what is happening in the world, and our values surrounding it. For example, we talk about LGBTQIA and how what is said about these individuals can be rooted in hate, and we cannot hate people based on their class or identity. It is ok to not like someone's character, but not l;iking them for things they cannot control is not acceptable in our family.
Social Media is still just a glimpse: We have all had that moment where we have someone we are friends with in real life, and assume they are a person that aligns with your every value. Then you see that they are posting information about the candidate you cannot tolerate. Remember that social media is just a glimpse into someone's life and thoughts. They may share a meme with little context or perhaps they are sharing because they are trying to appease their relatives, but will vote differently at the polls. Try to have a conversation with your friends in a space with no alcohol and cooled tempers. You could be surprised by what you find out.
You get another chance: High school and college went by in a blink of an eye. They were each 4 years long. It feels like so much damage can be done in 4 years, and we have seen what can happen with SCOTUS and legislation, but I do try to remind myself that we will get another chance in 4 years
Keep Perspective: I understand many people are angry right now, but try to remember who you are angry with. Your neighbor does not control legislation, and your uncle did not appoint the SCOTUS justices. Nor did your BFF from high school raise taxes federally. Even if they are in politics, they do not do it alone. If you do not like the election result, get involved with politics on smaller levels that have bigger impacts. Write and call legislators, find ways to canvas and engage in grassroot efforts for causes you believe in. America has many flaws, but a strength it has is the allowance of citizens to gather and fight for what they believe in. I know this seems like it is not a guarantee forever, but it is at this moment in time.
As I write this it is important to know that I too am nervous about the outcome, and as my best friend says I have always been a “reliable democrat” but the truth is, I work with so many individuals that will be impacted deeply by the results of this election. And as a woman, who is raising a girl, I also have a lot at stake here. I am not naive to what is at stake, but keeping my perspective, and trying my best to remember that I can quite literally only do what I can do is paramount.
Good Luck Tomorrow.
