A Big Case of the What If-s

I have a big case of the “What If-s” right now. 

October is my absolute favorite month of the year. I love Halloween, I love fall (where is it, by the way?), and my birthday is also this month. But I hate October this year. Yes, that’s a strong word and I rarely use it. But this political season is really throwing my mood into a pretty doomsday-vibe. I touched on this last week in our leadership update, so apologies if this is a little repetitive but I think it is definitely worth covering for everyone. With just over a week until election day, I would venture to say that 99% of the country is feeling at least a little anxiety about what is going to happen. Republican, Democrat, Independent, Green, WHATEVER party you side with, there’s really no escaping what's been going on the past few months. Well be prepared, because the next week is likely to be even worse. The presidential race is so tight that many political pundits are even talking about an electoral college tie. 

Here's our podcast episode this week talking about it. You can listen HERE, or watch below:

I will admit that I have been really stressing myself out about what could happen on November 5. I have been dealing with anxiety on a level previously unknown to me. I know my mindfulness skills are kicking in, because I can actually feel myself dipping into an anxiety driven mind, as I obsessively doom-scroll through the news. I am watching both campaigns like a hawk, fact checking constantly, and working myself up with a lot of “what ifs.” What if Harris wins? What if Trump wins? What if my finances take a hit? What if there’s violence? What if this bill gets passed? What if, what if, what if… What if I’m CRAZY? That’s how I feel lately.

But I know I am not alone. Recent polls show that 72% of Americans are stressed out about the election, and 48% have political burnout. I would venture to say that number is much higher. I really think that a lot of the anxiety right now isn’t really even about politics. I think this is more a reflection of our unmet needs as a society. People are genuinely scared, and fear is one of our most basic emotions as result of unmet needs. You may think only the people that are voting like you are scared, but that’s not the case. Both sides of this, and all the people in-between are scared as well. 

Dealing with anxiety about the future, particularly political anxiety, requires a mindful approach that brings awareness to the present moment and helps us manage our responses to uncertainty. One key aspect of mindfulness is accepting that many things, including political outcomes, are beyond our immediate control. The more we try to predict or fixate on future events, the more we lose the ability to ground ourselves in what we can control. A mindful approach invites us to shift our attention from worrying about what might happen to focusing on how we can show up effectively in the here and now. 

My personal plan of attack on my spiraling thoughts is to turn off all news source notifications. ALL of them. This means I have to intentionally search for news, which isn’t really appealing to me. I don’t watch the news, as it just seems so riddled with negativity that I can't handle it. And I don’t need my son hearing about all of the horrible things going on that don’t have anything to do with him. Even if he isn’t watching, his subconscious is listening, and taking notes. I am also staying off of social media for the next few weeks. I don’t have those notifications turned on either. I am just going to insulate myself and make intentional check ins maybe every few days to see if there’s anything important and factual to learn about what is going on. 

What you can do:

Start by recognizing when political anxiety begins to dominate your thoughts. Instead of resisting or avoiding these emotions, observe them without judgment. Mindfulness teaches us to treat these worries as passing mental events, not facts. This shift in perception can create space between you and the anxious thoughts, making them feel less overwhelming. By grounding yourself in the present, such as through mindful breathing or body scanning, you remind your nervous system that while future uncertainties exist, you are safe and capable in this moment.

Additionally, embracing the present allows you to focus on what is truly within your control—your actions, reactions, and the immediate impact you can make in your environment. This could mean channeling your energy into positive, solution-oriented efforts within your community or workplace, where you can influence real change. It also encourages us to recognize when it’s best to stay neutral or disengage from political debates that detract from our mental well-being. Practicing gratitude for what is steady in your life, despite external turmoil, is another powerful way to manage anxiety. 

Finally, a mindful approach to political anxiety emphasizes self-compassion. Recognize that it’s natural to feel stressed or uncertain in challenging times, and give yourself permission to experience those feelings without self-judgment. Through mindfulness, you cultivate resilience, allowing yourself to respond more calmly to political events and anxieties as they arise.

Mindfulness reminds us that worrying about a future we cannot possibly predict steals the joy from the present. Politics are a psychological affair, and campaigns intentionally instill fear, which ignites passion and anger. This is why you see so much anger and fear right now. Try not to get sucked into the chaos. Detach from the outcome and you can calm your psyche and allow acceptance. The only power we have, whichever way you side, is to VOTE. And then we need to let it go.

Hang in there. We are almost through it!