Approximately half of our country woke up this morning to devastating election results. If my social media feeds are any indication, millions of Americans are walking around in a haze of fear and anger. We’re exhausted and confused.
There is much that needs to be figured out, sorted out, and acted on in the coming days, weeks, and months, but for now we just need to get functional again. Here are a few ideas to help you get your feet back on the ground:
- •Focus on what you absolutely know to be true, as often as you can throughout the day. Here is what I know: I know the sun came up this morning, I know that my coffee is hot, I know that my yard is covered with leaves I have no desire to rake, and I know that I had to nag my children to get their shoes on, just as I do on so many other mornings. I also know that Donald Trump won the election, and Hillary Clinton did not. That’s all I really know for sure.
- •Don’t let your thoughts get the best of you. We’re not good at not knowing, and there is so much we don’t know. Our minds want to fill in the vacuum with worry and conjecture. Try to notice when this is happening, and come back to what you absolutely know for sure to be true in this moment, right now. That tree in front of you. The feeling of the steering wheel in your hands. The restlessness in your body. The sound of your spouse’s voice telling you dinner is ready.
This is the part where your thoughts will jump to the “yes buts” and the “what ifs.” That is just your mind trying to bait you into freaking out again. Don’t take the bait. There will be plenty of time for analyzing and planning and taking action, but you’ll be a lot less reactive and a lot more effective if you get yourself grounded first.
You can read the rest of my suggestions over at GrokNation.com.
