I’ve noticed something about myself this election season. My mood seems to change depending on the latest poll, the latest candidate sound bite, and the latest commentary from a political analyst I trust. If the news is good, I relax a little. If it’s not, I tighten up. It’s the ‘pollercoaster’, as one podcast calls it. It’s the biggest, baddest, scariest ride in the park. And the longest— as of this writing, 49 more days to ride it out!
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that on the morning of November 5, when we step off the ride, the ground we step on will be the same. As both candidates continually remind us, a lot can change if the other side wins. Is riding the pollercoaster—gritting our teeth and white-knuckling it when the news is bad, lifting our arms and screaming when it’s good—an optimal way to prepare for the threat? Do we even have a choice?
The answers are no and yes. Allowing external events that are outside our control to control us is obviously not optimal. And we do have a choice. We can choose to treat polls and other election-related events as opportunities to practice habits that will bring us a state of mind that isn’t so fragile, so dependent on things going our way.
4 Steps Toward Unconditional Peace of Mind
Step 1. Recognize the problematic belief that is keeping you anxious.
To feel safe, we must neutralize all threats, right? Wrong. There are too many threats out there, including the election, which are beyond our direct control—mentally accepting that the election outcome is only one of the countless uncontrollable unknowns in our future, such as the health of you and your loved ones, the turns of the marketplace, or the climate itself. By making your peace of mind conditional on winning an election, you underestimate your resilience.
Step 2. Reduce monitoring of the threat.
Do you need to be up to the minute with every bit of election news? Rather than compulsively checking news feeds throughout the day, try limiting yourself to scheduled updating sessions. Turn off notifications of breaking news. If the election is the main topic of discussion with friends and family, try introducing another subject.
Step 3. Increase attention to the present moment.
As mentioned earlier, the election is still weeks away. Worrying over any future event takes us out of the present, so we miss out on the things unfolding now that will soothe and restore us. Take a walk without your phone, preferably in nature. Write down three things you are grateful for in your life right now. Try cooking with a new recipe. Take some time to sit with yourself, directing your attention to your breathing. Present-moment awareness helps to calm the threat-sensitive part of our brain.
Step 4. Take reasonable action
Practicing the above steps will best prepare us to take wise action that will feel satisfying, even though it won’t move the needle all by itself. For some, it means donating money; for others, it means donating time. For some, it will be enough to cast their ballot. Remember that nobody can—or should—do it all. It’s enough to do your part.
Feet on the Ground
While the forces that are grabbing our attention are relentless, and the stakes are high, recoiling at every bit of bad news and hanging on every bit of good news will not prepare us for the outcome. Riding the pollercoaster is a choice. We can get off any time. We can best face what lies ahead if we’re firmly grounded in the beliefs and practices that keep us strong. And when the results are in, no matter what they are, you’ll have unconditional peace of mind.