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Ellen Debenport

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How to Survive This Election Cycle

How to Survive This Election Cycle

Last updated on: May 26, 2016 at 10:27 am by Ellen Debenport

How to Survive This Election Cycle 2016-05-26T10:27:01-05:00 Ellen Debenport

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

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photo by Allen Brewer on flickr

When one door closes, another one opens, but the hallway in between can be a long, painful presidential campaign.

Every four years, Americans collectively enter this hallway, a period of uncertainty between what has been and what will be. And we tend to squabble all the way to the next door.

This time, according to polls, we agree wholeheartedly the country is on the wrong track.

But we disagree about whom to blame and who can fix it. We disagree about the track we would prefer to be on.

So what do we do?

As it happens, I wrote a book about this! We have the same opportunities in mass hallways that we do in our personal hallways. Because change has to begin within each of us.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Traversing any hallway is a spiritual process, involving both the human spirit and the larger Spirit.

Acceptance: This is where the country is right now. We are seeking change but not agreeing on the choices. Acceptance allows us to stop resisting whatever is happening, to stop insisting this is not okay.

Surrender: This not only means allowing events to unfold but trusting that a higher power is at work in our lives. This is where we release some of the fear.

Forgiveness: Can you forgive the other political party? Can you forgive what the other candidate is saying? Forgiveness also frees you from fear, as well as worry and stress about the future. How much lighter would you feel if you were free of judgment?

Prayer: This is where we work in alignment with the stream of well-bring in the universe. This is where we affirm the highest good of all people. Prayer is focused thought that moves energy.

Sound like pie in the sky?

Well, if nothing else, an attitude of acceptance, surrender and forgiveness will feel better than railing against outer circumstances.

More important, what we hold in mind does matter.

Dozens of studies now have shown that groups meditating for peace and harmony created a measurable difference.

Probably the most famous was in 1993 when a group of Transcendental Meditators lowered crime in Washington, D.C., by 23 percent. At the time, D.C. had a crime rate three times the national average.

Such work continues. James Twyman was at Mt. Fuji in Japan this month to organize a synchronized meditation. Lynne McTaggart also has worked to coordinate consciousness. She calls it The Intention Experiment.

You might know of others.

Even if we don’t agree on the candidate we want, could we create coherence for peaceful solutions, graceful changes and global harmony?

MIND MATTERS

The way to find a door leading out of the hallway is, consciously and deliberately, to create your life with your thoughts.

Other people still might make choices you are tempted to judge, but they have their own paths.

Instead, pay attention to your personal universe.

The more you focus on upheaval or potential violence or what might happen if the “wrong “ people take power, the more likely it is to be in your experience.

Energy is neutral. The more we heap energy onto a candidate – our positive or negative focus of attention, whether we like the candidate or not – the more likely that person will be elected.

If you are vehemently opposed to a particular candidate, the most effective thing you can do is to withdraw your energy.

Stop worrying about it. Stop watching it. Stop thinking and talking about it. Really, is rehashing the latest outrage going to change your mind about anything?

Plan to vote in November, and leave it at that.

Go back to your spiritual work in the hallway. Acceptance, surrender, forgiveness, prayer.

Then put your imagination to work designing the healthiest, most thriving country you can. Imagine how it would feel to live in peace and harmony with all others. Hold that picture.

THE LEAST THAT COULD HAPPEN

Seriously, if enough of us do this, the universe can’t help but rearrange itself to take the form of our thoughts. It’s spiritual law.

And at the very least, your personal life will be less affected by what’s going on around you.

Isn’t it more pleasant to imagine peace than to fret that the world is going to hell in a hand basket?

Think about what you can be FOR. Take action toward what you want, not against what you don’t want.

We could look back on this election a turning point, a time when we gave up the quibbling (or rioting) and created for ourselves – starting in imagination – a world that works for all.

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