~James Carville
I am vacillating from anxiety to hope, dread to relief, excessive consumption of pizza to juice fasting – rinse, repeat, and scream. What a crazy time.
What I consider a disturbing and preposterousness possibility is flirting with upcoming election results and boggles the minds of millions as to how this could be a remote reality with the information we know. Some days it seems like it won’t happen, other days… we hear it’s imminent.
Emotional whiplash prevention is in order.
Eight perfectly imperfect ways to cope with the current anxiety using creative thinking, art, and writing
1. Let GoI’m letting go of speculation-obsession, (easier said that done because wondering what’s going to happen is laced with fear – real and imaginary -and fear has a way of removing cucumbers from my cool-as-them intentions.)
When the speculation-fear pops up, I say, “Thanks for sharing but I have some living I’d like to do, a poem to write, a doodle to midwife, a laugh to emit.” I’ll find out who wins on election day. Hoping justice is finally kicking in and looking for it every day in the often toxic and ego-driven web of social media won’t make it happen and can eat away at my time, if I let it.
2. Trust
No matter what happens, I’ll handle it. The perseverance required in the chaos of art and writing teaches resilience, enjoying the moment, and letting go of attachment to way things need to look in order to be happy. I’ll flourish no matter the results because my power comes from within not without. I’m not perfect about that either, and that’s okay. When it works, it gives me a lovely break from dread.
3. Physical Outlet
I put on Brent Lewis and move to the rhythm of his drums letting the heartbeat of anxiety morph to the ancient healing of a drum beat…Sometimes I pound on bongos for the subsequent catharsis. Any enjoyable physical outlet helps. Brent Lewis - Dinner at the Sugarbush
4. Gratitude
Redirecting the mind to that which I am blessed has instant anxiety reducing powers. I’m grateful for about two million things… I just got back from teaching during a phenomenal Art Walk on the Italian Riviera - that’s a wonderful memory to return to. with a slice of pizza.
5. Beauty
Fear has a greater pull than tranquility. It has more sponsors. Fear is how humans are wired to survive so it kicks in easier than being chill. I’m giving more airtime to nature, peace, and beauty even if it’s in five minute spans of time. Beauty is medicine.
6. Connection
When introversion doesn’t keep me happily solitary in my hovel of cats and books, I reach out to friends for connection, fun, and deliciousness with the understanding that we not talk about the thing. We are pack animals, connection is healing.
7. Make art or witness it.
Research shows we are less anxious, depressed and more fulfilled when we are immersed either in making art or receiving it. Not like I needed an excuse, but this boosts me aiming my direction toward writing and painting or going to a museum or concert.
8. Halloween Wild Abandon Creativity Workshop: Tuesday October 29 12 pm pacific/ 3 eastern
If you want to experience how #7 works, come find revery by making art and receiving a guided relaxation writing in my Halloween Creativity Zoom workshop, join The Underground Highway for a supportive community . Especially for intimidated beginners and those who know the power of creativity to provide a timeless, fearless experience away from the craziness of the world.
Halloween Workshop $25 Free to Paid Substack Subscribers (let me know in the comments you’d like to attend) and to Underground Members.