Hello lovely people!
Obviously last week was a lot.
We were running a Dare to Lead programme and the morning of the second day was when we heard the news of Trump’s win. This initially felt like too heavy a weight to carry into the day. As we arrived, we instead found there was comfort in being able to connect in that difficult moment with the amazing group of women who came together for the course.
We reflected on what we can do to navigate through this tricky time. And...because at THC we are on a journey to take our heads out of the sand and get educated on tech, we tried asking chat GPT for advice (!). This was their/her/his/its response for coping with and processing the feelings that might be bubbling up (with a sprinkle of THC-ness)…
1) Acknowledge & Process Your Emotions
Take a moment to accept that it’s okay to feel what you’re feeling, whether that be overwhelmed, disheartened, angry or anything in-between.
Talk to people who you trust and who are feeling the same way - sharing experiences and emotions can help us to feel less isolated and make things more manageable.
2) Limit Media Exposure
Constant scrolling through news and social media can have a negative effect at the best of times. With big news like this, over consumption of media can lead to stress and anxiety and amplify overwhelm.
Try to focus on balanced and trustworthy sources and don’t get drawn into arguments on social media.
3) Take Action
Regain a sense of control by taking small practical actions – get involved in your local community with groups that align with your values. Volunteering and getting behind causes that you believe in can give you a sense of purpose and stop you feeling powerless.
4) Remember the Cyclical Nature of Politics
Political landscapes are constantly shifting. Political change is inevitable & different voices will come forward in the future.
Reflect on previous challenging political moments and the resilience of people who worked toward change. Recognising this can bring perspective and hope.
5) Focus on Self-Care & Resilience
Self-care may seem trivial but paying attention to and maintaining your mental and physical health can help you to stay energised and engaged as well as build resilience.
Prioritise doing the things that you find relaxing and that bring you joy (like we should be doing always 😊 ).
How are you looking after yourself?
What other advice do you have or have you been given?
Remember that situations like these have the potential to bring people together in new and meaningful ways and can be a chance to practice compassion and engage in powerful discussions.
Take care of each other,
Team THC x