Holy shit, we’re about to have a flaming pile of orange dog poop as president.
It’s frightening, I know. Believe me.
I’m upset by this for a number of reasons. Obviously I’m against having a racist, misogynistic, narcissistic, xenophobe as president, but I have two specific reasons that I’m particularly horrified.
First, my husband and I are both self-employed and have been (very thankfully) taking advantage of Obamacare. What now?
I also have a daughter. She’s only two, so hopefully she won’t remember that a man who bragged about grabbing women by the pussy managed to secure the presidency, but I’m sure there will be a lasting impact to our environment, healthcare, and relations with other countries that will last for years (decades? millennia?) to come.
Yes, I could go on, but you already know all about the fears people have about President-Elect Spray Tan. I’m here to tell you how to remain calm. Yes, you can still march, yes you can still protest, yes you can still fact-check your bat shit crazy uncle on Facebook. But to be effective, inner peace is paramount.
Here’s how to do it.
1. Get off social media. I know, I know, I just told you to make sure the truth is out there, but really, your uncle isn’t going to believe you anyway. You aren’t going to change anyone’s mind, and if you’re always surrounded by stories that make you feel terrible or enraged or even righteous, you’re never going to have a moment of peace.
2. Look for the good. It’s only four years. Maybe less. If Hillary had won, she’d be torn apart and you’d still be miserable. Let him make mistakes and show his true colors.
3. Establish self-care. Seriously. I am not kidding, you need to do this. This is going to be a wild and scary ride, and you’re going to need time to get grounded. I meditate every single night, and it helps. Write in a journal. Exercise. Turn off the TV. Take care of yourself.
4. Turn off the news. I noticed that every time I was in the car on Fridays, listening to Slate’s Trumpcast, I ended up depressed and anxious. It’s a great show, but it was making me feel awful and wasn’t helping me do anything productive, so I took it off my feed. Be informed, but get it in small doses.
5. Look at the big picture. Yes, this sucks. Yes, this will impact our lives and our children’s lives. But there have been terrible leaders before. There are even more terrible leaders elsewhere in the world right at this moment. You have the freedom to speak, the freedom to vote, the freedom to choose your life partner and your career. This is not forever.
6. Find a mantra that calms you. “It’s only 4 years” ought to do the trick. Or maybe “This too, shall pass.” I don’t care if it’s cliché, if it makes you feel better, go for it.
Dudes, I’m with you. I hear you, I feel you. But I choose peace. For myself, for my family, for the way I interact with the world. You can, too.
If you’re still having a terrible time, please come over and get my free guide “Feel Better Now: 5 Strategies for Better Living.” It will help you take your peace-seeking to the next level and live through the next four years gracefully.