4 Ways to Get Through The Next 4 Years
After a whirlwind start to the new administration many folks who did not support Donald Trump are feeling emotions ranging from demoralized, angry, exhausted, disorientated or scared, and that’s just naming a few. For many the next four years are looking like a long slog. And it will feel even longer if too much emotional energy is spent in unproductive ways such as overconsuming news or social media feeds confirming many of your fears. Considering this topic the words of the serenity prayer came to mind which is commonly used now in 12-step programs as a source of support and resilience for those working through their addictions and difficult times:
‘Grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, courage to change the
things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference’
With these words in mind, here are some thoughts on 4 ways to get through the next 4 years:
Offer Support – Many people are scared right now. Undocumented immigrants and trans people come first to mind. You may be angry on behalf of those groups but how is that emotion serving you? And is there a way you can use it more productively? Is there anything you can do to offer your support? You can’t change the externalities, but you can support people in your communities. New York has received many immigrants over the past few years, and there are ways to get involved in supporting that community. They may not be welcomed by our federal government, but you can make them feel welcome by their neighbors and maybe it will make you feel better too, to take some direct action. You can’t change the administration or the news, but you can change how it feels to be a part of your community or neighborhood.
Stay Grounded – Again, you can’t much change the externalities, but you can make choices in your daily routine that will have a positive effect on your mental health. If you spend the first 30 minutes of your day looking at social media and/or news outlets which offer confirmation of some of your fears, you have made a choice to spend time in the externalities. Could you use this time to feel more grounded, in touch with your body? This could be a brisk walk (without your smartphone!), mindfully cooking some breakfast, or taking some time to connect to your body with yoga or meditation. None of these activities have any effect on the external, but they may give you more grounding and resilience to approach the rest of the day.
Practice Gratitude – Some folks can feel overwhelmed by how much darkness they see in the world. It can be helpful to take a step back and take some time to appreciate what you have to be grateful for. This could be a family member you could connect with more, a close partner or friend, or even taking some time to appreciate the city you live in, its diversity, culture and choice. Share with another person how grateful you are for them, and you will likely both feel better for it.
Get Involved – For those deeply ideologically opposed to what is happening, individual based strategies may not be enough. You may find it too much to handle the attack on trans rights or attempts to dismantle climate regulation. If this is you, getting involved in a way however small may give you some feelings of empowerment and control. This could be writing letters, canvassing for the midterms, or joining an activist group. If you have a specific skill (digital marketing for example) this can be very useful to offer to organizations. It might feel very small in the scale of what’s happening in the country, but you are using your energy to affect something that you can.
