Approaching politics: calm your mind, then take on the world
By Your Headspace Mindfulness & Meditation Experts
Recent and relentless shifts in politics have created uncertainty and instability for people around the world, regardless of whether we oppose or welcome the changes in power or policy. Citizens of every nation experience a full range of emotions over divisive issues; families and friends who hold differing opinions also face challenging conversations, especially where people’s rights and livelihoods may be affected by proposed bills, manifestos, and even authoritarian regimes. On top of all that, we must also navigate our personal relationship with the constant drumbeat of news and social media feeds, and still somehow find a way to feel like ourselves.
Approaching politics: the Headspace way
During such times, and as we focus on global events, it can benefit us to look inward: to seek stillness and clarity. At first, that might sound impossible when the discourse is so rabid, and especially when we see political views escalate into violence. But meditation allows us to manage fears and feelings, and allows us to more effectively engage with the world around us — including politics. We can channel our anger or sense of injustice without being burned up by it. We can find room for understanding without climbing down. We can learn to be less reactive and more responsive in our commitment to stand up for what we believe in. With all this in mind, we’ve selected some meditations to help support you, wherever you are in the world, whatever the political climate, whatever your beliefs. They are intended to help you breathe, de-stress, and reset. By calming the mind first, we’re then in a good place to play our part in the pressing issues of these times.
How to worry less about the news
- Panicking SOS - in a fight or flight moment, anchor your mind and body in the present.
- Choose Kindness - practice setting firm, but kind boundaries with anyone who may be rude to you — and remember, there is often more going on behind the scenes than you may realize.
- Make Space For Your Feelings - practice setting aside anxious thoughts while still validating them, and guides us in a meditation for recognizing your feelings.
- Set Boundaries Around the News - it feels good to be up-to-date on the latest news, but there are negative effects of scrolling too often - here's how to set boundaries and a meditation you can use whenever you need to check in with yourself.
What’s your election stress persona?
Take our quizTough emotions
- Breathe Through Tension - when we’re carrying stress or tension, our breath can help us - create space for negative emotions and releasing them with compassion.
- Losing Your Temper SOS - take a deep breath and let go of whatever is causing you to feel angry or frustrated.
- Carrying Resentment - by learning to accept the pain we feel, we can begin to cultivate friendship towards ourselves and start to let go of the tight grip that resentment can have over us.
- Holding Opposing Emotions - give yourself permission to feel the full range of complex human emotions — even opposites that may arise simultaneously, like anger and hope, or joy and exhaust.
Relationships
- Difficult Conversations - the prospect of a difficult conversation can drive feelings of anxiety and fear, but by lessening habits of reactivity and developing a calmer, more patient mindset, you can both listen and express yourself more clearly.
- Losing Your Temper SOS - take a deep breath and let go of whatever is causing you to feel angry or frustrated.
- Managing Conflict - more often than not, we go into conflicts looking to either blame another person or win an argument. Learn to put down your fixed position and create the environment for a calm, productive conversation.
- Collective and Individual Action - social ecology expert Dr. Nicole Ardoin explains how communities can become an inspired network of activists, where everyone brings their unique skills to the table.
"We can learn to be less reactive and more responsive in our commitment to stand up for what we believe in."
Post-election stress
- Fear of Change - navigating the fear and anxiety that can come with change, and guidance on how to accept the concept of impermanence.
- Shared Human Condition - whatever we're feeling - sadness, anger, happiness - that emotion is never truly ours alone.
- Uncertainty Doesn’t Mean You’re Powerless - a practice in sitting with the uncertainty in your life now and shifting your mindset back to your own agency.
- Cultivating Hope for the Future - social ecology expert Dr. Nicole Ardoin explains why a positive outlook on the future helps us become more effective climate activists.
We understand how important it is to stand up for your rights and the rights of others and to fight for what matters. By taking a few minutes to step back and meditate, you are making a difference to your mind. By making a difference to your mind, you are better equipped to make a difference out in the world.
Be kind to your mind
- Access the full library of 500+ meditations on everything from stress, to resilience, to compassion
- Put your mind to bed with sleep sounds, music, and wind-down exercises
- Make mindfulness a part of your daily routine with tension-releasing workouts, relaxing yoga, Focus music playlists, and more
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