It's election day, and many of us are ready for the inundation of text messages, emails, commercials, phone calls, and social media ads to stop. Moreover, many of us are ready to stop being flooded with stories, fear-mongering, and person-bashing. As I type this blog, I'm aware of my inbox being filled from New York Times with "Breaking News" subject lines. What's interesting is the content classified as breaking news. Most of these emails are simply updates on something already reported - what someone said or did, who is leading in the polls, etc. Is this really breaking news? As much as I appreciate the NYT, I'm questioning their rubric for levels of importance in this context.
Throughout history, people in charge of distributing news have used tactics to grab our attention. The purpose of distributing the information is to have people receive it. Perhaps, the line begins to blur when information of events becomes opinions or persuasion toward an agenda. Regardless of which source of media is preferred, most encounter the occasional (or habitual) bias toward a larger agenda. Reports around this, and most modern, elections are no different.
News is intended to keep us informed on matters that impact us, our communities, and the world. Some news is heavy or tragic, while other news is gratifying and heartening. It can be uncomfortable to hear what is going on in our local or greater communities, as well as the world. That doesn't mean we have to shy away from it. Staying informed can actually help us build and sustain empathy. Consuming content may not have the same results. In fact, the opposite can occur. In the modern era, we have access to more information than ever before, and not just locally. With minimal effort, we can find out what is happening in a small town or village across the world from us. Again, what a great opportunity to empathize and feel connected! However, too much content or news, like many things, can leave us feeling helpless, lacking agency, cynical, and all around defeated. We don't need to carry the burdens of everyone around us in order to be informed. In fact, constant news consumption can negatively effect mental health according to the American Psychological Association.
Today, more than ever, we have access to various sources for content. Just to name a few: the various movie and series streaming apps, live television, radio, podcasts, music streaming, short length and long length video apps, news apps, social media, messaging apps, blogs, vlogs, billboards, yard signs, interpersonal interaction, books, magazines, research articles, messages on clothing, etc. That's not even close to all of the categories. We have a craving for more information. Remember "The Power of Know."? With so many sources of information, we need to be clear what is factual information versus agenda-driven content. Even news outlets are filled with programming where a host delivers opinions about the information, rather than just the information itself.
Major news networks will take to the airwaves, today, with round the clock discussion of opinions, potential outcomes, positive and negative consequences for decisions, past incidents, character stories, etc. Influencers and average consumers will be posting and reading in social media. Podcasters will be digging in on the impact of today's results. Many folks in the US will be glued to their social media and/or news sources today. I invite each of us to pause for a moment of curiosity. Ask yourself what you hope to gain from the information you are seeking. Will this content change anything for you? Will the minute-by-minute updates while polls are still open change the outcome? How do you feel during and after receiving these updates? What is the intention and purpose of your process?
These questions are simply invitations to be curious about your behavior. Are you purposefully and intentionally seeking information that may enhance your life or prepare you for necessity in some way? Or, are you trying to fill a void of uncertainty? Beware of the latter. This attempt to soothe discomfort provides merely a temporary effect. You will still be uncertain, as no definitive information is available. Instead, let us shift our focus to the discomfort itself. What are you feeling? What are these feelings attached to - something actually happening right now, or a story of past experiences and/or predictions of a potential future. Without factual information, the former can be biased and the latter can become ominous.
In Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, and other mindfulness-based therapeutic modalities, we bring awareness to how we're feeling in the moment, accept that thoughts are not facts, and discern stories from facts. It's easy to get caught in a web of influence as our thoughts and feelings become more convoluted or reinforced.
As you navigate today, try a few strategies that may be different than the norm.
Limit consumption of content (from news and social media).
Consider what you actually want from the information you seek. Will your pursuit meet that desire, or leave you wanting more?
Explore how to meet your needs/desire based on what is factually happening. For example, if you are feeling tense and restless from uncertainty and/or anxiety, find the tension in your body. Open that area with stretching, light movement, and fluid breathing. For restlessness, meet yourself at the level of arousal/activity, and calm your movements intentionally. If pacing, pace on purpose. Walk at the speed that feels appropriate on purpose. Now, rather than aimlessly walking in multiple directions, pick a direction, and go there - head up, paying attention to where you are and where you're going. Then, slowly bring down your speed while matching your breath with your movement. The slower you move, the slower your breath and heart rate will become. Finally, ask yourself what you want/need to do in this moment that you can actually control or feel you have agency, and start there.
Today, and other days, protect at least 15 minutes to 1 hour for silence. Take a walk outside, sit in a quiet room with no electronic devices talking at you, spend some time in nature.
If you believe you need to check in on updates today, choose a source that will give you facts without pundit opinions or predictions, and limit this to once every few hours. Even when the polls close, there is a lot of information to gather before a result comes in.
Sleep. Regardless of the vote counts tonight, the result tomorrow will be no different whether you stay up all night watching or go to bed. Resume your usual bedtime routine tonight. If you don't have one, there's no time like the present to start. An example can include turning off content (TV, phone, podcasts, etc.) at least 1 hour before bedtime - count backward from the time you need to wake up, and give yourself 7-9 hours of sleep time. Take care of your hygiene. Do some light movement and stretching - long and slow - this isn't intended to be aerobic exercise. If your mind is busy, take a glance at your task list tomorrow, and remind yourself today is over. You are prepared for tomorrow, and you will address tomorrow when you wake up. If anticipation is still strong enough to hijack your sleep, write down the thoughts, and remind yourself again the day is over.
Stay informed, while being mindful of what you can actually do/influence/change. None of us is going to solve all the world's problems independently.
One final note... no matter the outcome of this election, if we ALL remember that what we have in common is being human, we have a chance to move forward in ways that work for us, rather than against us.
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