Coming Together for Changing Times

Both sides of the political divide cast this past election as an existential moment for our democratic way of life. Each side pitching its own version of freedom and well-being. Each side casting the other as the enemy. Yet, when the sound bites fade away and the dust settles, we’re all in this together. But, in order to come together and find solutions to some very real problems, we’ll need to put away the defensive posturing. 

Whether the issue is climate change, civil unrest, or economic uncertainty, the problem with the existential messaging is that your body gears up for defense. Your muscles batten down, your cortisol surges up. No wonder it’s hard to focus and impossible to relax, even if you’re exhausted. No wonder you’re on guard and unsure of the future, even if your side won. Because the challenges of our changing times are not going away anytime soon, you’ll need to find strategies for staying calm and centered. A big order, I know, but you can trust your wise body to lead the way. 

Calming down: After months of civil discord and partisan combat, your body may need a bit of coaxing to calm down and relax. Instead of being tensed up, you need to soften up. But, when you try to do this, your muscles and physiology just won’t let it go. Even when it’s quiet and nothing is happening, your body is still on guard. This is called stress tension. In order to get some rest and take care of your own well-being, you need to calm down.

The perfect time to address this Political Tension Stress Disorder is when it’s time to relax – at the end of the day. Turn off the media, dim the lights, and settle in your favorite chair. Take a few minutes to just quiet down and be in physical space. Then, scan through your body to locate your personal stress tension hideouts. For instance, even though there’s no physical reason, does your jaw feel like it’s clamped shut? Do your shoulders feel hiked up around your ears? Are your hands clenched? Use the gentle movement of your inhale and exhale to invite your muscles to soften the clamping/hiking/clenching and go with the flow. Add an affirmation that conveys you’re okay and life goes on. 

Calming down will help you rest. It will also help you reset anytime you need it. This can be useful before an important meeting, in between work and picking up your kids, or after a contentious conversation. Whenever you feel amped up or overwhelmed, just direct your breathing into the stress tension and calm it down. It only takes a couple minutes.

Being able to calm down when you’re worked up
is essential for your everyday health.

Getting centered: After months (years?) of hunkering down, buffeted between hope and despair, your body probably needs a bit of coaxing to recover its balance and feel centered again. You remember what it feels like to be centered, right? This is when you’re both at ease and ready for action. This is when you’re focused and able to think on your feet. From your body’s point of view, centering starts at the base. 

Perhaps you’ve never really considered the physical components of being centered. To explore how this works, or simply to refresh your understanding, all you need to do is stand up and tune in to what’s happening. Take a moment to make sure your weight balances evenly over your feet and align your posture to recover your full height. Stay tuned in and feel how staying centered isn’t about holding steady in one place. It’s a changing dynamic that involves subtle recalibration – balancing and rebalancing. This is how you’re able to be resilient in present time. 

If getting centered feels new to you, why not practice balancing over your base and standing tall the next time you’re waiting in line or brushing your teeth? Then, when you’re out in the world, notice how being centered empowers your self-confidence, communication skills, and ability to see the big picture. 

Being able to calm down when you’re worked up is essential for your everyday health. Being centered increases your effectiveness in everything you do. Tuning in to your calm and centered body helps you recover your equanimity. Then, when you come together to share some love with family or celebrate the season with friends, you don’t bring your fear or judgement to the party. If talk happens to turn to issues and policies, you can offer your perspective with clarity and listen to others with an open mind. This is the first rule of empathy. 

As we move forward to address a complicated future, a calm and centered demeanor will help you stand in your truth and shift your position when new information and creative ideas come along. This is how “my way or the highway,” becomes our way.