A huge percentage of Americans are experiencing severe stress as a direct result of the prolonged negative presidential campaign season, followed by the result of the elections. The political process is fluid and often cycles like a pendulum, so although I am generally horrified with what is happening, I must admit I am not surprised.
Given that much of this is out of our immediate control, might I suggest that this is an excellent opportunity to bring in a mindfulness practice. The only thing that we truly have any control over is our respective reactions to things in the world and not the things themselves. Over the past week since the elections I have observed that most people in my sphere are stressed and feel a great deal of fear and angst – myself included.
However I had an epiphany today while at the local produce Market: why not allow myself to look beyond myself and be kind to others? I helped a man bring his garbage bins in where I parked on the street, I offered a hand to a woman having trouble getting into her car in the parking lot near the store. I offered a kind smile to several people scurrying around the store, and much to my surprise I got a momentary startled look and then a smile back. It didn’t cost me anything, and it made both me and the recipient feel better. In some cosmically ironic way, it is in times of adversity and struggle where kindness can make the most notable difference! It reminds me of a silly poem my meditation teacher recited many years ago. It goes something like this:” everything is so lovely when life flows along like a sweet song. But a man worthwhile is a man with a smile when everything in life goes dead wrong!”