Tomorrow is the end of voting ‘season.’ This year voting has lasted for a month or longer. The whole exercise is not contained in one day. And it’s hard to call this Tuesday election ‘day.’ Instead, it may stretch out over days or even weeks.
For a long time, I have been anxiously waiting for this election to arrive. Now it’s here. Realizing that it is actually upon us, I began to wonder how to manage the experience. I don’t want to bob around on the ups and downs and swirl of news and emotion that I expect will grip the country.
I decided to find tips on how to keep an even keel despite the buffets and strong currents eddying in the culture around me. They can also serve me during future challenges as well.
These ideas and suggestions come from a variety of sources, ryanholiday.net/10-ways/ is a great one. I developed or added to a couple of them, too.
- First, have a regular spiritual practice. I find this easier to do with the support of a religious or spiritual community. For me, this practice supports all other practices.
- Exercise regularly. We are designed to be physically active. Using the body helps us to feel better physically, feel better emotionally, and think better. Exercise supports us in multiple ways.
- Develop a regular routine. It’s easier to make plans and easier to get things done.
- Find a way to handle and process upsets and distress. Some people journal. At the above noted website, I learned that Anne Frank journaled when she was distressed and needed to vent or work something out. “Paper has more patience than people,” she wrote. Some people take walks or simply call a friend.
- Pamper yourself! Take a bath, watch a movie, a TV show, watch some sports.
- Take note of and enjoy simple pleasures, like a cup of coffee, flowers, a favorite cereal. This helps one to be in the present moment in a positive way.
- Contact and stay in touch with the supportive, loving people in your life.
- Spend time on a hobby. This activity can lift one’s mood, break up the grind of the day, and provide an activity to look forward to.
- One of the favorite tips I found on Ryan Holiday’s website is called “Zoom Out”. My name for this is ‘spacious thinking.’ Simply put, it means to look at the long-range picture. Realize that whatever we are going through now, something similar has happened in the past. Others have had to live through similar challenging and difficult times. People survived, came out the other side and had a life.
- And last but not least, “do something for the greater good.” This takes you out of yourself, and also, lifts your spirit because you are contributing something positive to the community.
I won’t be able to use all these ways of staying on an even keel over the next days. But I can practice some of them, especially pampering, relaxing, and staying in touch with others. And I may slip, but I now have these tips to refer to. I hope everyone has a steady, positive two weeks.