At this point, we are experiencing unprecedented change around us daily, and as human beings, we are navigating how it affects us individually. Many people are dealing with the expected or unexpected change of a Democratic presidential candidate 105 days from election day in the US. The shift in course opens up extreme cases of anxiety, uncertainty, and even depression due to the nuance of the situation and acknowledging the different perspectives that each person will have based on their own experiences, fears, and doubts. It's a salad bowl of emotions and reactions that people are encountering while appreciating the history-making moment we are all a part of.
On a personal note, I've consistently dealt with life changes and emerging 'moments' over the last four years. So, it's become my second nature to "assess and adjust" strategically and efficiently to gain the most out of the change and proceed with optimism. Admittedly, it doesn't happen automatically, and there is some intention on the individual's part to remain grounded, which means being emotionally stable to undertake the pending change. Stabilizing your emotions first is essential because what you're trying to accomplish mentally concerning the change will be mashed together in anger and resistance if you don't reconcile them appropriately.
However you decide your outcome will look like following processing the change, there are seven things you can do to help approach the change with skill and awareness:
Lead with optimism: You must embrace your optimism more than your skepticism. While I understand history often impacts how optimistic we are due to past failures, we have to invoke the idea of a different outcome; otherwise, it'll be impossible for you to see it.
Don't resist and acknowledge time: You must accept the change to move forward. It is happening, and there isn't anything you can do to change it. You also know that time can calm fears, doubts, and anxieties introduced by the change, i.e., nothing lasts forever.
Make plans for what you control: Whatever you can control, control it. To campaign for the new candidate, research and understand how you can contribute. If you only want to vote come election day because, mentally, that's all you have the capacity for, then that's okay, too.
Determination and resoluteness become your make-up: You must embrace a level of grit to get you through the uncomfortable moments associated with the change. You may have to establish some boundaries, especially on social media, with others who are emotionally unstable via their emotionally charged declarations on social media: unfriend, mute, or block to protect and stay true to your resolution.
Become moldable in your mindset: It might be beneficial to accept that this change was 'meant to be' so you can reframe your mindset from thinking you are losing out on something with the new direction of the situation. Acceptance, as opposed to resistance, is vital in this process.
Make your frame of mind hardy: That means you frame your mind to become capable of enduring complex changes that seek to make you withdrawn or exhausted in the face of the changing situation. Some may call this resilient as well.
Lean on your intimate community: It becomes tempting to react daily to someone who says things to trigger you during an election season, but those reactions are often unproductive in the bigger scheme. Creating a small community of friends and family you trust to provide a safe space to have challenging conversations concerning the election is beneficial. If you know your strengths are different from the educational credentials of political science or robust experience in politics, leave those talking points to the experts and interact with your community concerning sensitive matters offline.
Change is often complex, and our immediate response is typically resistance; however, consider these seven processes when navigating this election season. You'll find them helpful in dealing with change on any occasion.
Writer: Corey D. River Jemison
Copyright: 2024