MINNEAPOLIS – There is relief and excitement for half the country afterwards Election Day. This is the case for almost as many people disappointment.
So, what do you do when you disagree with people in your life? How do you move forward harmoniously?
“There are a lot of people who have a lot of deep and big feelings,” says Emma Nadler, a psychotherapist and author from Minnesota. “I’m really interested in how we have conversations, how we understand each other, how we try to break down some of that division.”
But when it comes to politics, timing is crucial.
“I think right now, where we are, some people aren’t ready to have that conversation, and that’s OK,” she said. “If they’re not ready to have that conversation, maybe it’s about finding support today.”
How should you respond when someone is excited and you are not?
“I think the hope is to be able to acknowledge where the other people are at,” she said. “That there is a mix of opinions and you just have to notice that.”
As for the deep divide between your office, home and place of worship, Nadler suggests prioritizing “really important” relationships.
“That might mean having some boundaries or having some places you can and can’t go in terms of what you want to talk about,” she said.
The big picture, Nadler says, is that even if you support different candidates, you support each other.
“That would be my biggest hope right now, for people who are struggling and feeling stressed, that they do it together,” she said.
For people who are stressed, Nadler also suggests trying to stay grounded in the moment and not the “what-ifs.”
She also says it’s a good time to pause and think about loved ones who vote differently than you, and think about something you have in common.
Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield
