As a therapist and coach, I almost never talk about politics with my clients. But in the past two weeks, it’s been unavoidable. Here in the U.S., the election is on everyone’s mind.
There’s so much at stake: access to healthcare, the economy, the prospect of war with nuclear-armed foreign powers.
Not only that, but the country has never felt more divided (at least since the Civil War…) Friends, coworkers, and family members are often on opposite sides of the aisle, and the divisive nature of politics in the social media era has eroded our ability to have a polite conversation about our differences.
It’s no wonder that so many people are feeling anxious about this election.
You’ve probably heard the mainstream advice for dealing with stress: mindfulness meditation, breathing techniques, and other forms of self-care. Those are all fine, and if they help you, by all means put them into practice. But today, I want to talk about something different, something you probably haven’t heard already.
I want to share what I actually do to cope with my election anxiety.
It’s a practice I came up with back in 2016, inspired by my study of Stoic philosophy:
Essentially, I reflect on the fact that every historical figure I admire lived under some kind of tyrannical regime.
From the dawn of human history through the 20th century, most of humanity lived under autocratic regimes ruled by kings, emperors, dictators, and tyrants. Our ancestors lived through wars, famines, plagues, and every imaginable kind of disaster. Fledgling democracies, social justice, and times of peace have always been the exception rather than the rule.
Good humans lived during the reigns of Attila the Hun, Stalin, and Hitler. No matter what hardships they faced, they lived according to their core values to whatever extent it was possible, and took large or small actions to make things better. Sometimes their resistance cost them their lives.
If you’re a fan of Stoicism, you may know of the philosopher and playwright, Seneca the Younger. (I blame Tim Ferriss for making Seneca’s Letters from a Stoic into a modern bestseller). Seneca not only had to live under Emperor Nero, but served as his tutor and advisor, doing the best he could to hold back Nero’s destructive tendencies until the mad emperor finally ordered him to commit suicide.
If the people I admire could live good, honorable lives under such terrible circumstances, then I can deal with whatever the outcome of this election is. At least we get to vote. At least—for now—we have the right to free speech, and the freedom of the press that allows me to write this newsletter.
I realize that I’m writing this from a privileged position.
As a cis, straight white male with a middle-class income, I’m insulated from a lot of the worst outcomes that people could face as a result of this election. I don’t have to worry about being deported or losing sovereignty over my own reproductive health. But I do worry about war, about free speech and censorship, about democracy, healthcare, the environment, and what kind of world my daughter will live in.
So I’m not minimizing the potential consequences of this election, no matter which way it goes.
It’s just that I find it calming to see our current situation from a long historical view, one that spans thousands of years, instead of just four-year increments or a 24-hour news cycle. And to remember that people I admire have lived through far worse, and still held fast to their values.
If they can do it, so can you.
May you live in peace and safety,
Chris Cordry, LMFT
PS: How are you feeling about tomorrow’s election? What practices help you stay grounded and centered in the face of uncertainty? Let me know in the comments. And if you found today’s newsletter helpful, please consider forwarding it to a friend. You can also help me out by liking, restacking, and sharing this post on Substack. Thanks!