Political Self-Care
Issue 44
It happened to me, too, people! I found my Self in what was a reasonably prolonged state of exhaustion about politics and my place in it. An unwanted and rather unusual circumstance, but there it was. It lasted about five days or so which, for me, is forever because it’s usually no more than a few minutes. In addition to feeling exhausted, I felt subdued. I actually felt more malaise-y than anything specific.
The only difference between me, a conscious politics practitioner, and someone who is not, is that those who are not seem perfectly content to remain in their states of discontent. They say their anxiety or helplessness or fear and the like are, pretty much, just the way things are. Their friends and families feel similarly and it’s just all so normal. I feel politically helpless, but I have a good job and a nice place to live so, sigh. Not me!
As a purveyor of conscious politics, I often describe myself as being able to pay close attention to politics and consume news without my head exploding or my heart breaking. It’s what this newsletter is all about. It’s what Spiritual Workout for Politics & Current Events is all about. And part of our practice is distinguishing between me-things and we-things. It’s always a me-thing when it comes to our thoughts and feelings, the ways in which we respond to what’s going on. It’s a me-thing to navigate from malaise to satisfaction, which I did. What follows is a deconstruction of that process, FYI.
Conscious politics requires nothing more than conscious people practicing being conscious. Being conscious just means being aware of what we’re thinking and feeling and making adjustments when we don’t feel right. That’s it.
Take Responsibility
This is where we acknowledge that there’s really nobody or no thing out there that’s causing our discomfort (political or otherwise). Whatever it is, is our perception. And if it’s our perception that’s the problem then we conscious folk address our perceptions. It’s not linear, but taking responsibility for what we’re experiencing — and for how we respond to it — is an excellent place to start. Nobody’s doing anything to me.
Everything Is Energy / We Are All Connected
Sometimes the first question that arises is whether or not what we’re feeling is even ours. It’s common that we humans, particularly empathic humans, unwittingly pick up the energy/emotions of others throughout the course of living on the planet with others. I employ a process of intention and E.F.T./“tapping” to release energy that isn’t mine, which usually takes no more than a few minutes.
Well glory hallelujah. After those few minutes, seventy percent of the malaise I was feeling lifted right off me. Duh! I typically clear my energy regularly, making sure I’m not carrying anything extraneous, but my habit had waned, apparently, and some of that extraneous energy slowly collected. Like it does.
Two sub-notes: First, that it all felt so undefined and malaise-y in the first place was a sign that what I was feeling was more than just me. I just don’t know why I’m feeling so off. Second, whatever I picked up came from the ethers, if you will, not a physical crowd. It came simply by existing in and paying attention to political energy in general and all the thoughts and dynamics therein — while home alone. We really are all connected and energy permeates.
Beliefs Matter
Because I’d inquired about whether or not everything I was feeling was actually mine and so much of it wasn’t, there wasn’t too much left to explore in the category of what am I believing? I fished around anyway, though, and found some wisps of beliefs like my efforts are futile; nobody cares; the old consciousness is formidable. Then that process just stopped in its tracks: not my beliefs/issues; more other people’s stuff. Maybe another ten percent or so.
Listen to Inspiration / Be Present / We Are Here for a Reason
So with 80% (you know it’s not about math, right?) accounted for and gone, it was clear that whatever was left was mine, all mine. So I checked in with feeling and what I felt was a big, giant, empty expanse. I felt dispirited. Broken-hearted. It was directly linked to my thinking/believing that a seeming forever-chasm existed between where we are, as American humans, and where I know we can be, as a society, living happily in that world that works for everyone. We’ll never get there. Ouch. I can barely even say that out loud today because, again, I honestly don’t believe it. But I was believing it enough then, in that moment, underneath it all — while I was feeling all that not-me energy — that it produced that 20% or so of what remained of my malaise.
I’m here and I want to be there. Anyone? Well, we know how to navigate that. Be present! I’m here for a reason; no accidents; no resistance. I’m part of a process of seeding something new. Ah! That thought/belief actually felt right. And that’s the gold right there. I’m feeling a certain way, I’m not sure why, I land on a possibility of why, and the feeling instantly changes. That’s the confirmation. I’ll/we’ll never get there is replaced with I’m/we’re seeding something new. A willingness to choose, on purpose, in real time, what to believe about what’s going on. And then using feelings, listen to inspiration, as a guide, which leads to this last bit.
The Law of Attraction Is Always On / Intentions Matter
The freaking law of attraction. It renders me unwilling, ever, to spend one nano-second more time in unwanted energy than is absolutely necessary. (It’s never necessary.) Having intentions shiny and clear and at the ready (like my obsession about an America that works for everyone) and then, in the present, giving attention to the intention, is what’s required to facilitate this because we will otherwise perseverate on what’s not wanted. (Not good.)
•
Conscious politics requires nothing more than conscious people practicing being conscious. Being conscious just means being aware of what we’re thinking and feeling and making adjustments when we don’t feel right. That’s it. We got this. Yay us.
NOTE: I did not set out this week to write so specifically about exactly the kinds of things we talk about in the live, interactive version of this newsletter also known as Spiritual Workout for Politics & Current Events Monthly Drop-In, but it happened. :)
Indeed, our next Drop-In will be on Tuesday, June 22 and this time I have a little news. By request, we will begin creating our first collective intention for world peace. It promises to be dynamic and productive if not also a little bit fun and uplifting.
I do hope you’ll join in to participate in the world peace intention, to talk about the kind of process I laid out here, and/or whatever has popped into your mind as a result of reading these pages and living your life.
Subscribers, please use coupon code SWP622 to attend free of charge.
I truly relish the idea of learning new and extended ways to use tapping. I'm sitting here, working away, thinking I'm having a pretty good day and then BAM! I read this and think, well, shoot! Of course, I should continue tapping even when I'm feeling good (not just when there is something to fix). It's like eating healthy and exercising; these are things to proactively keep your physical and emotional health optimum. It's an AHA! moment up in here today. Thank you, again.