No matter what your political leanings, nothing about the past month can have been easy. From the liberal (not a dirty word, no matter what you’ve been told) side of the house, we mourn as human rights crash and burn. From the conservative side, many people feel cheated that the new administration isn’t doing what they said they would. In truth, the slash and burn approach to dealing with governmental agencies they don’t understand or appreciate has been painful to observe. Especially, as they try to rehire essential staff…ones responsible for containing bird flu and the nation’s nuclear codes, among other things.
So what can we do to shield ourselves from the never-ending news cycle or from friends who are still gloating about “winning.” It’s tougher when close friends and relatives view the world differently than we do. The choice comes down to making a concerted effort not to talk about current affairs or simply not spending as much time with them if the former strategy fails. I’ve blocked more than a few folks in an attempt to create a healthier bubble.
Prioritizing our own mental health is key. We all have ways we self-soothe, from binging TV series to warm baths to bodywork to curling up with a compelling book. In the midst of our busy lives, stopping to prioritize any sort of mindfulness or peace is critical. This is a lesson I learned from being a cancer survivor where the “what ifs” will literally eat you up alive if you give them power over your thought processes.
One of the things that works for me is scheduling my mindfulness practices so they happen at roughly the same time every day. Same for the sauna or baths. I finally started writing again. For a few months, I was too sick and wondered if I would ever write another word. To sit and have the words flow is soothing in and of itself.
Another useful habit is finding other like-minded people and spending real time with them. Could be anything from a Google hangout to having coffee with your BFF. Having resources to talk with can be a lifesaver. It’s why people see therapists in addition to having friends. That’s the other side of my career. If my health continues to improve, I will start seeing patients again. I don’t want to jump the gun and have to exit stage left like I did last November with little warning. It’s not fair to the people who depend on me.
Journaling helps too. I keep a gratitude journal. Every night, I write down five things that happened that day that I’m grateful for. It sort of sets the stage for a peaceful evening. And it makes me focus on the half full part of the glass rather than whatever else may have happened that day.
If you are one of the millions let go by the Federal government, spend enough time to process your feelings of loss and unfairness. But don’t get stuck there. Every community has jobs. They won’t be the caliber employment you left, but they will buy you time to regroup and figure out what you want to do next. I worked for county government for 27 years. The trade-off was less money now for a secure retirement. I am certain all those who were summarily fired feel cheated out of that retirement and a whole lot of other things, too. Frankly, I’m wondering what the trickledown effect will be on the Public Employees Retirement system. There has to be one.
Take each day as it happens. Do not get too far ahead of the curve. No one can foresee the future. That’s a lesson I took to heart from mountaineering where the question of the moment was, “Can I take another step?” If the answer was yes, I kept climbing. If not, I found a way down. There is always a way down (or through) even if you cannot see it at the moment. Easy to write, harder for you to believe. Work on strategies to remain present. Plan as energy dictates.
Love, light, blessings to everyone.