There is no doubt that elections bring out the best and worst in people. The hope is that the highest good prevails and that the candidates who have the best interest in the wellbeing of the country get elected all up and down the ballot. They would ideally be servant leaders who could represent the basic needs of all Americans, regardless of how they cast their vote. There would be a peaceful transition from one administration to the next. Does this sound like a pie in the sky naïve wish? It doesn’t need to be.
In the meantime, while counting the days until November 5th, tensions are running high, words are being hurled as weapons, deliberate disinformation is being spread. During the 2020 election, a 2020 Pew Research Center study found that 55 percent of U.S. adults said “they feel worn out by political posts and discussions.” With the increasing vitriol and seismic shifts in both parties, there is no doubt that the percentage of worn out U.S. citizens would be even higher now.
Constant access to television and online news, as well as social media pundits and people of all stripes expressing their views, can make our collective heads spin. There are some who have said that they wish they could sleep through the next few months while others are soaking up the available information like sponges, not wanting to miss a drop. Doomscrolling can feel like an addiction that is difficult to break.
We may check polls daily to see how our preferred candidates are faring, but at this point, they are teetering back and forth like a seesaw. A newscaster referred to the polls as a ‘snapshot of the moment,’ and not the entire picture that we won’t see until after the votes are counted. Would you like to take a mini vacation from the stress that comes along with living in election limbo?
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- Take a news fast when it seems the world is too much with you.
- Go for a walk in nature.
- Spend time with children and animals.
- Work out in the gym.
- Cycle in a park or along country roads.
- If you have a faith practice, use it to support your mental and physical well-being.
- Listen to relaxing music.
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Take in inspirational podcasts.
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David Wilcox is a singer songwriter who has a montage of music for every aspect of the human condition. Out of the Question gives us an opportunity to explore the uncertainty of life. Karen Drucker incorporates wit and wisdom into her song selections as she offers ‘Music and Message to Heal, Inspire and Empower.” The Face of God, helps us see the Divine in everyone, even if we disagree with others’ views. Barry Goldstein is a multi-faceted musician who blends sound with science, as the vibrational signatures of the music help to bring calm and ease to the listener. Om Shalom Home is an exquisite chant to sooth an overexcited nervous system. Jody Kessler was a brilliant tunesmith, blending the spiritual with the secular. Sadly, she passed away from brain cancer this year. Her song Just As It Is, will encourage us to come to accept life on life’s terms, particularly in times of turmoil. Julie Gold penned the iconic song From A Distance that has become an anthem for harmony, hope and peace, as we can see a bigger picture if we take a step back. Fred Small is a Renaissance man- attorney, minister, singer songwriter and social justice activist. His song Everything Possible has been a classic, as it offers the reminder that we have choices about who we are and the kind of world we want to create.
Podcasts:
Podcasts for reducing anxiety
Podcasts for distraction from life stressors
Lifechanging Motivational Podcasts
37 Motivational Podcasts for an Inspirational Year.
NPR-Stressed about politics? Here are 5 ways to take care of your mental health