The election is over, but the emotions, disagreements, social media and conversations? Those aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Whether you're celebrating, disappointed, anxious, or just trying to avoid another political debate, how do you manage yourself and continue loving people well when you don't see eye to eye? In this episode of Making Wholeness Possible, Danae Labocki and Ken Shuman have an honest conversation about what happens inside us when people think, believe, or vote differently than we do. Why do we feel the need to convince people we're right? Why do we sometimes judge someone based on what they believe? And what about those of us who would rather avoid the conversation altogether than deal with someone else's reaction? Together they explore how anxiety fuels our reactions, why self-differentiation matters, and how guiding principles can help us show up with greater emotional maturity. Because the real question isn't whether we can get everyone to agree with us. It's who we choose to be when they don't. You don't have to change everyone else's mind to begin making wholeness possible. Start with how you show up. 1. Name what you're afraid of.Get honest about the fears underneath our anxiety. What's worrying you about the election, the future, or someone else's beliefs? Write those fears down. Then notice how they might be influencing your reactions. 2. Catch yourself making up stories.When someone says or posts something you disagree with, notice the assumptions you're making about their character, motives, or intentions. Can you recognize the story before allowing it to shape how you treat them? 3. Give yourself permission to pause.Before responding to something upsetting on social media, try Ken's example of waiting 30 minutes. Give yourself time to recognize your emotions and decide whether responding is really how you want to show up. 4. Get clear about one guiding principle.Choose one principle that reflects how you want to treat people, such as humility, gentleness, curiosity, honesty, or compassion. Then practice living in alignment with it, even when you're anxious, angry, or uncomfortable. 5. Love the person in front of you.You may never meet the candidates you voted for, but you will encounter neighbors, friends, coworkers, and family members who see things differently. What would it look like to love one of those people well this week? You don't have to agree with everyone. You don't have to have every answer figured out. And you don't have to engage in every disagreement. But you can keep growing in your ability to manage yourself, stay grounded in what matters, and choose how you want to show up. No one can do this work for you. But you don't have to do it alone. Keep showing up. Keep staying curious. And keep doing the work of making wholeness possible. Faithwalking’s course, What No One Told You About Life: Growing Up Emotionally, Managing Anxiety, and Improving Relationships, is designed to help you grow in emotional maturity, manage anxiety, and improve your relationships. Learn more here: https://faithwalking.com/what-no-one-told-you-about-life/ We would love to hear from you! Email us questions, topics you would like us to cover, or just say hello! makingwholenesspossible@gmail.com Ways to Get Into Action This WeekLearn More
