Harish Menon’s Post

Election seasons can be one of the most polarizing and emotionally charged times in society. As the political landscape heats up, we’re bombarded with opinions, divisive rhetoric, and the stress of an uncertain future. Regardless of where you stand on the issues, the energy surrounding elections can take a significant toll on our mental, emotional, and even physical well-being. The tension, anxiety, and heightened emotions that accompany these times can leave us feeling overwhelmed and out of sync. As we navigate the complexities of election season, it’s important to remember that we have the power to choose how we respond to the world around us. While external circumstances may be beyond our control, we can always choose to stay grounded in love, peace, and resonance. To read more about Staying Balanced During Election Season with the Lovetuner, click on the link below.

If you missed last night’s session, here is another opportunity to process your feelings with friend to The Collective- Meico Marquette Whitlock By now you’ve probably seen the election results. As you figure out next steps, it may be tempting to jump into rescue mode right away for the sake of your team and organization. But times like these, it’s important to create space for yourself before recommitting to the work. Let's pause and check in with ourselves and refill our cups. Wednesday, November 6, 2024, 7 PM ET Together, we’ll: ✔ Pause and tap into our natural resilience ✔ Share practical strategies for navigating election season ✔ Craft a personalized self-care plan to stay grounded Don’t face election stress alone—join us and leave feeling renewed and empowered to navigate the season ahead of us. Feel free to invite friends and colleagues to join you in this experience. https://lnkd.in/gcUUxJmr

Today, someone on my team asked me what the "plan" was for election day and for the rest of the week? I knew what she meant and I didn't have an answer. What I fumbled through was something like this: "I believe in the inherent good in people, all people. Whatever happens, people will be having very big feelings: anger, dispair, confusion, and all sorts of things. I don't know what the plan is, but I want to acknowledge the FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) that is percolating ....just barely below the surface." #uncertainty We bring our whole selves to work. Some people will manage the US elections by overworking, unplugging, anxiously doom scrolling, overeating, and who knows what else. #BeSafe #ViolenceIsNeverTheAnswer My invitation is this: ✅ Participate in the process- VOTE! 🌟 Let go of what you cannot and should not control- we all have experienced loss and we have the tools to move through grief ❤️ Practice empathy and compassion- the "other side" (I hate that saying BTW) will be devastated and the feelings are real; we will not heal if we refuse to see the suffering of others 📅 Be flexible this week- we all have BIG FAT BUSINESS GOALS.... 📈 and, this week is...a lot.... #GoGently #CollectiveWe #WeThePeople #Compassion #DemocraticExperiment #EveryVoiceMatters

I went to sleep before the election was called. I woke up this morning, stunned, and not in a good way. Yes, I'm revealing my political leaning. I believe that empathy, curiosity, and care are essential for leadership, and I saw it in Kamala Harris. So I put in more volunteer hours more than I've put in on any campaign, and I've been involved with elections since 1988. This time, I wrote hundreds of postcards to voters, canvassed hundreds of doors, phone banked for hours, and donated a good chunk of money. But the results didn't turn out as I expected. I'm definitely in shock. I thought about what I've been creating this past year, in the background, that I'm going to be launching in 2025: The Powerful Under Pressure Leadership Institute. I wondered if I should scrap it. But then, no. I realize that some of us -- perhaps many of us -- are going to need to know how to access and activate our power under more pressure-filled situations. Unexpected turbulence. Rapid change. Shocks to the system. If there's anything I know, it's that we inhabit bodies that are so wise for keeping us powerful, energized, flexible, and adaptable -- especially in the face of change. In this moment, if you're like me and having a tough time processing the results of the US election, I have a few suggestions: Breathe. Slowly. Deeply. Make your exhales longer than your inhales. Pull your shoulders back gently, allowing your chest to rise. Lift your gaze. Lift the sides of your mouth into a little smile. In this moment, you are safe. You are OK. Keep feeling into your body, naming the sensations you feel without judgment or evaluation. "Cold hands. Gurgling stomach. Pursed lips..." things like that. Stay as neutral and kind as you can about what you feel. Doing this, moment-to-moment, brings you present. Helps you realize you're safe in this moment. Calms your body and mind enough to give you access to all kinds of power within you -- mental, emotional, and physical. More to come, my friends, as we navigate an uncertain future. Together.

It’s here, the 2024 Presidential Election Day in the United States. The last few weeks have been a constant reminder of how contentious and polarized this election may be. Regardless of where you are on the political spectrum, you may be feeling a lot of emotion, from anxiety, fear, and stress to excitement and anticipation. The stakes feel high, and those feelings can quickly become overwhelming. Whether actively participating in the political process or trying to keep some distance, here are some strategies and resources to help you find balance, focus on what you can control, and navigate today and the days that follow with some sense of groundedness. https://lnkd.in/gcfj4Neh

Overcoming Election Anxiety: The Lenz Foundation is honored to invite you to our FREE virtual event. Do you have a long line of anxieties about this election, the fate of the world, the long road ahead? You're not alone! We've gathered a panel of experts who have stood in the line and emerged stronger, centered, and more mindful. Now they want to share their experiences--in government, social progress institutions, the military, and disaster zones--with you. During this October 10th webinar, you'll learn real street stories along with proven mindfulness and meditation techniques. You’ll have the chance to step back and view this election through a mindful lens. Will election anxiety diminish? We're confident that with the guidance of qualified, mindful people steeped in the political cauldron, you can experience a new level of awareness as we face an election that may be like no other in its potential impact on our lives. Thursday October 10, 2024 9:30am PST; 12:30pm EST https://lnkd.in/d3bRTi6c

🌿 After the Election: A Moment for Calm and Connection 🌿 Elections can stir up a whirlwind of emotions—excitement, frustration, hope, and even stress. As we take a breath post-election, let's remember to center ourselves with empathy and understanding. In our communities, we’re likely to find people with views that differ from our own, and while it’s easy to focus on what divides us, there’s so much more that can connect us if we choose to see it. ✨ Here are a few gentle reminders for today: Pause and Breathe: Take a moment to slow down, clear your mind, and let go of tension. No matter the outcome, we can find peace in how we care for ourselves and each other. Listen and Respect: Conversations with those who view things differently can be enlightening. Listen with the intent to understand, not to respond, and you may find shared values and experiences you didn’t expect. Practice Kindness: A small act of kindness can go a long way in easing the stress we’re all feeling. Whether it’s a smile, a kind word, or a simple check-in, these gestures can remind us of the humanity we all share. Focus on Connection: We are stronger when we find ways to connect rather than divide. Building bridges with understanding creates a path forward that benefits everyone. Let’s move forward together, prioritizing respect, empathy, and the hope for a brighter future. #macmhmentalhealth #childrensmentalhealth #SupportingFamilies #YouthEmpowermentmpowerment #MACMH #bipocmentalhealthMentalHealthEducation #healthymindset

As a balm in this news-drenched week, Oliver Burkeman dropped some election season wisdom in The New York Times. Here's the gist: You can’t care about everything. Or, you can, but the cost is high. To attempt to care for everything steals your ability to take meaningful, concrete action on anything…and threatens your mental health in the burglary. “It’s easy to find yourself, metaphorically speaking, living inside the news cycle — treating the latest campaign developments or polling data as somehow more real than your home, career, neighborhood or friends,” writes Burkeman. “It’s a grim irony that many people thus mesmerized by the news feel themselves to be fighting for democracy’s survival, when the total colonization of inner life by politics is a traditional hallmark of totalitarianism.” Instead, this moment requires a willingness to withhold our attention, even from some causes and stories that matter, so that we can pick the battles where our energy and actions can make a tangible difference, Burkeman says. “It would be one thing if this nervous fixation [on the news] at least helped us make a difference in the wider world. And it can seem that way: Scrolling, sharing and refreshing on social media certainly simulates the feeling of efficacy, as if you’re acting on the news, not just watching it in slack-jawed panic." Instead, focus on meaningful action and retain “your ability to assert primacy over your own mind.” You can’t care for everything, let alone act of everything you care about. Choose, instead, assert your personal agency and care, and act, on what matters to you. As Burkeman writes: “Even when the future fills you with foreboding, your only option, and thus your only responsibility, as Carl Jung observed, is to do “the next and most necessary thing.” Good medicine as you watch #election results come tonight. #meditationsformortals

Anyone else feeling emotional today? This election has been divisive, so let's make space for healing, empathy, and listen to each other’s concerns. We have to find ways to bridge divides as we move forward. Compassion can be a powerful start. This is a great article!

Let’s be honest—most of us are ready for this election season to be over. The ads, the debates, the fundraising, the unsolicited political texts; it’s exhausting. And it’s easy to assume that the people you surround yourself with, who share many of your values share your vote. But that’s not always true. I’ve watched friends, colleagues, even family hurt their careers and relationships over these divides. It’s not worth it. We can and should ask questions, discuss issues, and debate passionately—as long as we approach each other with genuine curiosity and respect. If you want influence over the long run, you need a seat at the table. Don’t say, or do anything that gets you excused. Your voice matters and we need all of you, every voice at that table, and every perspective if we’re going to tackle the challenges ahead. Tonight isn’t just about a candidate or party. It’s a test of our resilience as neighbors, colleagues, and a community. Can we hold strong views and still make space for each other? Because tomorrow, when the dust settles, we’ll still share our communities, workplaces, and lives. Let’s honor those connections with respect and civility. After all, the true measure of this election may be less about the result and more about the way we move forward—together. #politics #trump #harris #election #bias #psychology #respect #civility