Can anyone resonate with what I shared here about being a kid in the lunch room during the 1992 Presidential Election as everyone yelled READ MY LIPS at the top of their lungs?
I was unsure of how things had unraveled so quickly, I felt overwhelmed by the noise and conflict, unsure if anyone was on the way to help, and caught in the midst of people screaming to be heard, while missing the opportunity to listen to one another.
It was a lot.
The political climate feels like a lot these days, too, and I have found myself weighing the importance of being aware of what and how people are talking about the election, the candidates, and our country around my kiddos. In order to help guide my kids through this season in a way that is aimed at understanding and hearing others, we need to be mindful of how we are being impacted by the political climate. Here are some ways we can move towards mindfulness this election season.
Tips to Engage Mindfully with the Election Season:
- Set a Daily Time Limit for how much political information you’ll consume and the number of sources you’ll engage with.
- Include non-partisan reporting in your news feed, and even consider reading “the other side’s” reporting.
- Reflect on political conversations you’ve been around. How did they leave you feeling?
- Make sure there is space to process the information and conversations, not just to ingest information. Consider journaling, talking with a friend, doing art, or engaging with movement.
- Maintain healthy routines of movement, sleep, and nutrition.
Questions to Reflect on:
- What have I learned from reading or watching this content?
- What questions is this raising in me? What feelings is this raising in me? What concerns am I carrying?
- Where do I see good happening through and because of our government right now?
- What are the small things I could do to bring good about in my community today or this week?
