Today I was at the doctor’s office and overheard a woman talking about the upcoming election. She said that everyone she knows is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Those are strong words. And if she is feeling that way, imagine how many others are too. In the United States, millions of people are stressed about elections. And many millions more around the world feel that same tension, because the U.S. has such a large impact internationally.
I know what that stress feels like, because I used to be one of those people. I let the emotions of politics control me. I argued, I worried, I obsessed. Then one day I realized something important: I have very little control over the outcome. I can vote, I can encourage others to vote, but beyond that the rest is out of my hands. And the amount of mental energy I was wasting on something I couldn’t control was enormous. If we have little control, we should have little stress. That realization changed me.
It is good to care. It’s good to be informed. It’s good to participate. But once you cast your ballot, be done with the worry. Be concerned, but not over-concerned. Because whether our “side” wins or loses, life goes on. Politicians overpromise and underdeliver. Power shifts back and forth. The world adjusts. The pattern repeats.
When we look back on our lives, the moments we regret most are the ones where we chose to make ourselves miserable. Stress doesn’t change outcomes—but it does damage our own well-being. So commit to yourself now: care, but don’t over-care. Think, but don’t overthink. Participate, then release.
Your peace is worth protecting.