5 Mindfulness Strategies to Help Lower Stress After the Election
I had a chance to see a problem long before anyone else did,
but my liberal bias wouldn’t allow me to see it.
The outcome of an election can bring about a whirlwind of emotions, especially if the results differ from what you had hoped. For those of you facing stress after the election, mindfulness can offer valuable tools to help manage feelings of disappointment, anxiety, and uncertainty. Practicing mindfulness encourages you to observe your thoughts and emotions without judgment, bringing a sense of calm and clarity. Here are five mindfulness strategies that can help anyone navigate stress and find balance after a challenging political season.
1. Acceptance: Embracing What Is
Acceptance is one of the fundamental principles of mindfulness. It doesn’t mean you agree with everything or that you stop working for change. Rather, it’s about acknowledging reality without resistance. When we resist what’s happening, we tend to amplify our stress. Acceptance is about saying, “This is where we are right now, and I can find ways to respond skillfully.”
Acceptance can provide you with a foundation of strength and resilience. Take a few moments each day to sit quietly and acknowledge your thoughts and emotions. Notice the feeling of disappointment, sadness, or anger, but avoid getting swept away by it. By accepting the situation as it is, you release the tension that comes with fighting reality, opening up mental space to focus on positive action rather than feeling stuck in opposition.
2. Non-Attachment: Letting Go of Fixed Outcomes
The concept of non-attachment is often misunderstood as detachment, but in mindfulness, it doesn’t mean being indifferent. Non-attachment is about loosening your grip on specific outcomes and recognizing that clinging to a single vision of how things “should be” can increase suffering. It involves seeing that while you may have preferences and goals, they do not define your happiness or sense of self-worth.
When it comes to politics, it’s natural to want your party or values to win. But attachment to political outcomes can lead to stress when things don’t turn out as expected. Practicing non-attachment means recognizing that your well-being doesn’t need to hinge on a single result. Notice when you’re holding onto a “should” or “must” around political outcomes, and gently remind yourself that life is complex and evolving, with many unknowns. Non-attachment frees you to adapt to whatever the future may bring with greater resilience.
3. Present Moment Awareness: Staying Grounded in the Here and Now
Mindfulness teaches us to return to the present moment. When we’re stressed, our minds tend to jump to the future, often projecting worst-case scenarios, or dwell on the past, replaying disappointments. However, being fully present right now—right here, in the current moment—can be immensely calming.
One way to cultivate present moment awareness is through a simple breathing exercise. Take a few deep breaths, paying attention to the sensations of your breath as it enters and leaves your body. As you focus on the here and now, let go of any thoughts of future outcomes or past regrets. By grounding yourself in the present, you’re better equipped to approach each day with a clear, focused mind.
Practicing present moment awareness doesn’t change political realities, but it helps reduce the stress of constantly imagining what might happen next. Being fully engaged with the present moment allows you to live more freely, giving you space to recharge and take meaningful steps forward.
4. Impermanence: Recognizing That Everything Changes
Impermanence is a central concept in mindfulness, reminding us that everything—emotions, situations, and people—constantly changes. In times of political upheaval, it’s easy to feel as though things are permanently bad, but this perspective is often driven by heightened emotions and stress.
Take a step back and remember that all experiences, including challenging political times, are part of a broader flow. Just as seasons change, so do situations and people. Recognizing impermanence can help ease some of the despair that comes with political outcomes you disagree with. Instead of seeing current events as static and unchangeable, you begin to appreciate the ebb and flow of life. This perspective creates space for hope and reminds you that better days are always possible.
5. Beginner’s Mind: Realizing We All See Through a Filter
The practice of Beginner’s Mind invites you to approach situations with a sense of curiosity and openness, as if seeing things for the first time. When emotions run high, it’s easy to become entrenched in one way of seeing things. However, all of us interpret reality through our own lenses, which are often shaped by personal experiences, beliefs, and biases.
Beginner’s Mind reminds us that there are always new things to learn and different perspectives to consider. Try approaching others with this mindset, even those with different political beliefs. Allow yourself to ask questions, listen with an open heart, and understand that we each see life through a unique filter. This doesn’t mean agreeing with everything, but it does mean recognizing that understanding can lead to more compassionate interactions.
Practicing Beginner’s Mind can also help you release some of the stress that comes with political polarization. Instead of feeling rigid in your views, you open yourself up to a sense of curiosity and exploration. This outlook can create a more peaceful inner world and promote a culture of empathy, even during divisive times.
I wrote a book about mindfulness and still occasionally see life through a filter.
A very liberal friend of mine, moved to Austin, Texas, about twenty years ago. One day, after she had lived there for a while - I was talking with her on the phone, and she was ranting and raving about the problem of “illegal immigrants” coming over the border.
She was worried about her safety and fearing that one of these immigrants might break into her house. With my own liberal bias, I really didn’t hear her complaints. I just thought, what in the world has happened to my liberal friend? I assumed that moving to a RED state had changed her. And yet that was kind of a cry for help, that I could have heard if I had had a truly open (beginner’s) mind but didn’t.
Finding Peace and Balance After a Challenging Election
Mindfulness doesn’t change the outer world, but it can impact your inner experience, if you are open to it. Even in the example above, mindfulness helps me NOW see that this was an issue that we Democrats should have paid more attention to and addressed, long before we finally did.
By practicing these five strategies—Acceptance, Non-Attachment, Present Moment Awareness, Impermanence, and Beginner’s Mind—you equip yourself with tools to navigate the ups and downs of political life with more resilience and more peace. These practices provide a stable foundation in times of uncertainty, helping you approach each day with a balanced, open mind. Even if it only happens like it did in my case, in retrospect.
Remember, stress doesn’t have to control your experience. By grounding yourself in these mindfulness principles, you can respond with wisdom and compassion to any challenge the future may bring.
James Porter
Author