{*Did you know you can write on Elephant? Here’s how—big changes: How to Write & Make Money or at least Be of Benefit on Elephant. ~ Waylon}

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Let’s face it: whatever team we are on…elections are fraught with competition and unkind jabs, and it feels like a lot is on the line.

As I watch my friends post, repost, and react to memes and political commentaries, I want to offer three wisdom practices that have helped me tremendously over the past few election cycles.

Here are three ways to battle election anxiety with a meditation practice:

1. Consistently taking our meditation seat.

This can be as little as 10 minutes a day! What matters more than the amount of time is the consistency factor. Sitting every, or almost every, day is key to shifting the energy of your mind. When we practice returning our attention to the breath or another meditation object, we train ourselves to leave other objects behind. Unhelpful thoughts, cyclical thinking, or even negative thoughts are workable when we have the right tools to accept, breathe, and move on. Sounds useful, yes?

2. Engaging in like-minded community outside of politics.

We all could use a break! I grew up with the 10 o’clock news every night, NPR in the mornings, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel delivered to the mailbox (I just dated myself), and “60 Minutes” on Sunday evenings. Being steeped in current affairs and the news was the norm for me. Over the past decade, now steeped in mindfulness practices and the Mind Oasis meditation community I founded, I only check in with the news once weekly. I’m an informed citizen and still know what’s happening in the world, but I am not so immersed that it disrupts my peace of mind. Being with others and meditating to bring peace to the world feels better aligned with creating the world I want my grandchildren to have.

3. Finding our response instead of reacting.

When we have a consistent meditation practice (for as little as 10 minutes each day), it’s like going to the gym for our brain. Little by little, as we train our minds to return to the object, we retrain our minds to take a sacred pause before reacting. It takes time and consistency, but hot damn it’s awesome the first time you see yourself triggered and resist the “unfriend” or “reply” button. From there, an incredible upward spiral launches. By acknowledging the sacred pause and the fact that we haven’t contributed negatively to an already aching world, dopamine and other joy chemicals are released. Do it a second time? Ditto. As you respond more and react less, it becomes more like riding a bicycle—a skill that was once learned and is now second nature.

“taking a moment

to figure out

how you really feel

instead of letting

old patterns decide for you

is one of the most

authentic things you can do”

~ yung pueblo, Clarity & Connection

The so-so news is that engaging in these three activities takes little effort, but the great news is that it becomes effortless when we take a meditation immersion or engage in group meditation.

Meditation is personal, but it’s not a solitary endeavor. We can thrive this election season and beyond. A consistent meditation practice that teaches your brain to respond instead of react will get you there joyfully!

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