I voted several days ago, and this year, things were different. I’m not just talking about the masks, hand sanitizer, and extra space between the stations.
Usually when I go to the polls, I get misty-eyed with pride and humility as I stand in line to honor the civic duty (and privilege) of voting.
I think about all that our forefathers endured to establish our nation, and all the suffragettes did to fight for my right to vote as a woman.
I consider those who have fought to preserve our democracy and freedom, from the world wars to the war on terrorism.
I ponder how lucky I am to live in a country where elections are fair and real.
Instead, this year I felt the darkness and heaviness of our political polarities like thick smoggy air on a hot, humid night, even though it was a crisp, sunny autumn day when I went to my nearest early voting site.
I wondered if the deepening divide between the two sides would eventually swing so far in one direction or the other that we lose our democracy.
Upon moving to the south I’ve learned more and more about the heartbreakingly immense role slaves played in establishing the foundation and success of our country. At the polls I reflected this year on these oft unrecognized builders of our country, and how so many people are suffering even still today because of the color of their skin.
I’ve lived through a dozen presidential elections and even worked for the federal government for several years in the early 2000s. For the first time ever, I wondered if the election would be fair and real, which I acknowledge speaks to my idealism and privilege.
No matter where you land on the political spectrum, to say that this election season and the months leading up to it have been emotional here in the U.S. would be an understatement.
And I’m just so over it. Aren’t you?
I’m tired of the fear tactic commercials, nasty headlines, hateful comments, and sad stories of families torn apart because of differing views.
When I find myself getting caught up in it all, I turn to some of my tried and true yoga philosophy tools—in addition to my physical practices—to reclaim my self-care and sense of stability, strength, and hope.
I share a few of them here in the hopes that they will help you too if you’re feeling like one more political ad is going to send you over a cliff (or to the bottom of a tub of Häagen-Dazs) in these final days leading up to the big one.
If you don’t live here in the U.S., perhaps these tips can help you during your own elections or through another tough time in your life. I know they’ve helped me through plenty.
Satya (Truth). As hard as it is right now to know which news to trust, it’s super important to learn about the issues, check your sources, and figure out your own truths and values around them. Equally important is to start to understand the truths of others. Every time you cling to your truth as being the only truth, the divide between you and others who have a different experience or view widens, and the less chance we have of finding solutions that bring people together.
Brahmacharya (Continence or Moderation). As much as you need to educate yourself, it’s just as important to moderate your intake of the information, chaos, and negativity of the election. Constant bombardment with input of any kind drains your energy, especially when the information puts you on a relentless emotional roller coaster of fear and outrage. Instead of going down the news rabbit hole reading article after article or becoming more and more horrified as you scroll through the hateful comments on social media, you can choose to plug these energy leaks by unplugging from the input.
Svadhyaya (Self-Study). Start to pay attention to the signs your body and mind are giving you that enough is enough. Learn how your body and mind show you that you’re exhausted, angry, depressed, anxious, scared, concerned, depleted, tense, frustrated, etc., whether you clench your teeth, feel like you can’t breathe, get knots in your stomach, can’t get out of bed, or something else. When you determine your body and mind’s unique ways of communicating with you, then you can hear the messages they’re offering, interrupt destructive patterns, and take back your power with deep acts of self-care.
Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender to the Divine). Surrender to the Divine is not about spiritual bypassing or just giving up without trying. It also doesn’t excuse bad behavior or acts of violence, big or small. Surrender to the Divine is a reminder that not everything is within your control, nor is everything your responsibility. Thinking that you can control everything and that you need to take care of everything only sets you up for frustration, stress, and eventually illness. Surrender to the Divine means that when you’ve done everything you can, when you’ve taken all possible action, the only thing left to do is to let the Divine, whether you call it God, Universe, Spirit, a Higher Power, or something else, handle it. An even more subtle level of this principle includes giving up the idea that you know best and that everything should be the way you think it should be, rather than trusting in the Divine’s plan.
Now, I’m not saying I have all these down. I still do my share of worrying, being obstinate about my view, and feeling frustrated and angry. I’m a work in progress just like anyone else.
I find that the more I can remember and call upon the universal principles that yoga philosophy offers—the ones above are just a few—the better I feel and the easier it becomes for me to move through life’s difficulties, whether it’s the intensity of the elections, a personal loss, or struggles at work.
And don’t forget to make it to your mat. Practice, practice, practice. (You can find my current schedule of weekly classes here.)
Whether you need to shore up your strength before heading to the polls (please, go vote!) or you need to release your fears and worries after watching the news, moving your body will help get your mind off of things for a bit and relocate those negative emotions out of your body so that you can approach this time from a place of greater balance and stability.
Speak Your Truth
Are you tired of all the negativity of this election season? How are you managing your emotions and energy right now? What’s your biggest challenge to living a happier, healthier, more inspired life in the midst of the election fears and chaos or the other difficulties of our times? Let me know in the comments below!
In wellness, joy, and inspiration,
Tami