Post-Election Despair

It’s been just one week since Trump won the Presidential election, catapulting many into despair, terrified of his campaign pledges to deport millions and roll back human rights, like making abortions illegal nationwide.

Upon hearing the election results, a few friends reported they were too depressed to find the energy to leave their homes. Some are seriously considering leaving the country, a growing sentiment in the gay community.

It’s perfectly understandable to react to Trump’s victory with despair and anger, but if you wallow too long in these feelings, you’re in danger of sinking into a black hole.  Writer, Anne Lamott has a fresh take on the Wobblies advice, “Don’t mourn, organize,” insisting that one can do both at once.

Scream in the privacy of your home, walk off your rage, do whatever helps you release your fury.  Reach out to like-minded friends for support and join with them in local actions to counter Trump’s sinister proposals, like deporting migrants in record numbers.

Just yesterday a local activist emailed me with an invitation to join a group forming plans to protect our migrant community.  This simple invitation lifted my spirits.  There is no better antidote to hopelessness than action in community.

Joanna Macy, the Buddhist teacher, writes of “active hope,” as a practice for overcoming powerlessness,  Macy preaches that despair begins to dissolve with every small action towards helping to build a better future, like working to mitigate global warming, helping the homeless, or volunteering at a shelter for abused women.

Participating in efforts to build a better society, allows our best selves to surface. In this way our lives become more satisfying, diminishing despair.

Young people peacefully protesting for a ceasefire in Gaza

Macy lectures that when we are open to the world’s suffering and do our small part to help alleviate it “we come back to life.”  We become part of humanity.   At 95, she practices what she preaches, starting each day by asking herself, “What would my day look like if I were to practice active hope?  How do I need to behave differently?”

Joanna Macy in her 95th year

For me, practicing active hope can be as simple as calling a friend in despair over the election, checking-in on her, perhaps gifting her with an inspirational book, like a collection of Mary Oliver poems. Growing a sense of solidarity with others was never more important.

To counter Trump-filled hate messages, compassionate practices are essential, where we send out love and good will.  The Dalai Lama teaches compassion is fundamental for alleviating despair. One simple, effective way to becoming more compassionate is to practice random acts of kindness, which doesn’t always have to be a big gesture. Smiling at a stranger you pass on the street can brighten her day.

The tragedy of Gaza is the failure of world leaders to respond with compassion to the ongoing genocide.  The nonstop global demonstrations in support of Gaza demonstrate the power of organizing to overcome despair.  Even with these massive demonstrations the genocide goes on, but some political observers posit that Harris’ support of the genocide was instrumental in her defeat.

I was inspired by an email from a friend who shared his plan for moving out of his post-election despair.

My choices are simple and pragmatic:

To know my neighbors.

To joyfully honor social interaction.

To continually re-examine my values, resources, priorities.

To ask if the information I choose is accurate and unbiased.

To act openly, respectfully, in concert with the natural world, in support of women and of those without a voice.