1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,880 Speaker 1: Hello everybody, well, welcome back to the show. Welcome back 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 1: to the podcast, new listeners, old listeners, Wherever you are 3 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:09,879 Speaker 1: in the world, it is so great to have you 4 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 1: here back for another episode, as we, of course break 5 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: down the very important psychology of our twenties. I'm going 6 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:21,639 Speaker 1: to cut straight to the chase. Today. We're going to 7 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 1: be talking about political anxiety and political uncertainty, something that 8 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: I think we could all do with some more information 9 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:32,880 Speaker 1: about at the moment, and maybe some comfort as well, 10 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 1: given the recent election. I just want to say straight 11 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:39,919 Speaker 1: off the bat from the top, this is not a 12 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: space for any hate or negativity, and if you are 13 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: listening to this episode with that intention, or you're looking 14 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: to start an argument, you're looking to make a point, 15 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,159 Speaker 1: I would kindly ask that you move on to one 16 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: of out many other episodes, just with respect for those 17 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 1: of us who are feeling differently to you. You know, 18 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:01,279 Speaker 1: I'm recording this the day after the election, and I 19 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 1: know that tensions are high. So if you were happy 20 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 1: with the results of the election, then you probably don't 21 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 1: need this episode, but there are people who do, and 22 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 1: I hope that you can respect that For this moment. 23 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: I just want to put that out there, because my 24 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 1: focus with this podcast has always been on making people 25 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:24,319 Speaker 1: feel like they have a space to just feel their feelings, 26 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 1: whatever they may be, as ugly, as horrible, as negative, 27 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:32,120 Speaker 1: as dark as they are. I just simply want you 28 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:34,959 Speaker 1: to know that you are not alone, and just to 29 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: find ways for you to find peace within the turmoil 30 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 1: of our twenties and beyond. And I think a lot 31 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 1: of us need that right now. There is something very 32 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: specific on a lot of our minds that is increasing 33 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 1: that turmoil. You know, there is a lot of angst, 34 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 1: There is a lot of stress anxiety to do with 35 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: what the future holds after the outcome of this election, 36 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: but also just in general when it comes to increasing 37 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 1: polarization and division almost everywhere we look. I know a 38 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 1: lot of us are concerned about our freedoms, our safety, 39 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: our rights, what the future holds for us in many domains, 40 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:16,920 Speaker 1: you know, the environment, foreign policy, the economy, and just 41 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: genuine empathy and kindness. In the world. We are seeing 42 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 1: so much suffering and injustice and it is not a 43 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 1: pleasant feeling to be sitting in, especially since that feeling 44 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 1: in particular jeopardizes some of our very core needs as humans. 45 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: We need to feel secure. We need to feel a 46 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 1: sense of stability uncertainty. Our human brains don't like uncertainty 47 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 1: because it triggers our survival instincts, which have very much 48 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 1: evolved to help us avoid danger. You may think that 49 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: these very ancient systems don't really apply when it comes 50 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 1: to political outcomes or elections or anything of the sort, 51 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 1: but it very much does. I don't know what is 52 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 1: going to happen, and everything in your mind and your 53 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 1: body is telling you that the outcome won't be good 54 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: and it's going to be harmful to those that you love. 55 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:13,800 Speaker 1: This is something that you are going to be hyper 56 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 1: vigilant towards. This is something that will trigger stress and 57 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 1: the outcome of an election current. I don't know. Political circumstances, 58 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:28,119 Speaker 1: social circumstances, those are all very valid triggers. Our fight 59 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: or flight response is triggered by major societal, political environmental change, 60 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: especially when the stakes are high, and I think with 61 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 1: recent events, often our fears can feel very unreal and abstract. 62 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: And this isn't some abstract fear, This isn't some abstract 63 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: scary thought. The fear for many of us it did 64 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 1: come true. This could have consequences for us, and this 65 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: definitely creates an even deeper emotional investment and acknowledgment of 66 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: what's happened in the past and also fear around what 67 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 1: could potentially and might actually happen in the future. There 68 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 1: is a significant increase in fear that comes from that. 69 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,919 Speaker 1: And whilst we could typically call that catastrophizing, you know, 70 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 1: maybe there is a tendency to think, you know, no, 71 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 1: like this is just catastrophic, thinking it's not going to 72 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: be that bad. I think some of our fears don't 73 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 1: feel unrealistic, and that is a really scary thought that 74 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 1: there is something that might be likely to occur as 75 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 1: a result of this election, as a result of the 76 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 1: political climate that we really don't want to face. And 77 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:43,799 Speaker 1: all of that is based in very human, very animal, 78 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:47,719 Speaker 1: very evolutionary anxiety that is meant to keep you safe 79 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 1: in these moments, and that is meant to spur you 80 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 1: on to do something. It's just that right now it 81 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 1: doesn't feel like you can. So I just want to 82 00:04:56,839 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 1: tell you what you are feeling is com deletely understandable. 83 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 1: Distress is a very valid emotional response when it feels 84 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:09,919 Speaker 1: like the world is collapsing and it feels like that 85 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 1: right now. I've received messages from so many of you 86 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:17,799 Speaker 1: saying that you feel so alone. It feels like society 87 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 1: is going backwards, that this is not the kind of 88 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: world that you want to live in. How can you 89 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 1: plan for a future? What can you expect from your future? 90 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: And I very much understand right now how very very 91 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: hard it is to put into words all the scenarios 92 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:35,600 Speaker 1: that our brains are cooking up. There's also a real 93 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:38,600 Speaker 1: sense of political fatigue, you know, for all the progress 94 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 1: that we've made, for how much hope we had, for 95 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 1: how deeply we believe in what is right. Surely there 96 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:45,720 Speaker 1: is some way to fix this, but which is too 97 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: exhausted to even think of it right now. There is 98 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 1: just too many emotions running amok. There is just too 99 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 1: much stress, almost paralyzing us. But we can't live in 100 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 1: that distress and this anxiety forever. As much as it might. 101 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,919 Speaker 1: I feel like we're doing something about the problem. We're not, 102 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: and that is the space that I want to move 103 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:10,480 Speaker 1: us into, the space where we can think more clearly 104 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:13,360 Speaker 1: about what we can do next. We can think more 105 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 1: clearly about how we can look after ourselves, how we 106 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: can approach this with a stoic mindset, with any mindset 107 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 1: that helps us actually live. I guess essentially there may 108 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 1: not be a way to fix what has happened, but 109 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 1: there is a better way to cope, and there is 110 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 1: a way to return to at least a sense of 111 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:38,600 Speaker 1: internal safety, even as wild things are happening outside, even 112 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 1: as things in the future seem to threaten us. So 113 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 1: from here on out, we are not going to talk 114 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: about any specifics to do with the election, no specifics 115 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 1: to do with politics. Our focus is just on how 116 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 1: to take care of yourself and those that you love, 117 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:58,039 Speaker 1: and how to take care of your mind. That is 118 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: our one job here from here on out. And I 119 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 1: really just want to give you the space to have 120 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:06,680 Speaker 1: maybe a mental break from reading the news, from absorbing 121 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 1: that kind of content and that kind of information, and 122 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: instead give you some of the best psychology based tips 123 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 1: for managing the elevated political anxiety and stress that many 124 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 1: of us have at the moment. So, without further ado, 125 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:26,080 Speaker 1: let's get into this. Hopefully this is helpful. Hopefully you 126 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 1: better understand the political anxiety you might be experiencing right now. 127 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 1: The hardest thing to kind of come to terms with 128 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: at this point is that you cannot change the outcome 129 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 1: of what has happened, as much as you might want to. 130 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: You know, the worry and the stress within you, it 131 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: is calling you to act. It is naturally calling you 132 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 1: to do something, to run, to fix the problem, whilst 133 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 1: you kind of know that the thing that is causing 134 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: your stress you can't fix that. You know you can't 135 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 1: fix an election, you can't fix whatever the political state 136 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: is that you're experiencing right now. The way that you 137 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: could fix a conflict with a friend, or you could 138 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 1: fix a screw up at work, these kinds of situations, 139 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 1: these political global situations, they're very unique, and they're very 140 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 1: rare in the impact that they have on us psychologically, 141 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 1: because we don't typically have the skills in our toolkit 142 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 1: to deal with something so big and scary that we 143 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:34,440 Speaker 1: can't actually do anything about. We're so used to everyday 144 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 1: problems that might confront us, but which we naturally have 145 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 1: a way through. So what we need in this situation 146 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 1: is to essentially change our mindset. If we can't change 147 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:48,079 Speaker 1: our circumstances, we can change how we think about it, 148 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:52,720 Speaker 1: and we need to adopt a very counterintuitive perspective, which 149 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:56,679 Speaker 1: is that of a stoic. We need to almost and 150 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 1: it feels unnatural, but relax into all that's terrible. I 151 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 1: know that sounds confusing. I know that sounds like, yeah, 152 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 1: just like be okay with it. But let me explain 153 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:12,439 Speaker 1: what that means. So stoicism is an ancient Greek philosophy 154 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 1: that basically means weathering the storm that you cannot fight 155 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 1: and just letting the waves roll over you. It's about 156 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 1: basically enduring hardship even when it is completely utterly uncomfortable, 157 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:30,080 Speaker 1: because the alternative of fighting and struggling against what you 158 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:35,199 Speaker 1: can't control, that alternative is suffering. It's basically saying that 159 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 1: when circumstances cannot be changed, the thing that you can 160 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 1: control is the level to which you choose to suffer. 161 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: Some level of suffering is not optional. But it's almost 162 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:49,560 Speaker 1: like when you are being beat down by waves, like 163 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 1: in the ocean, and you're just like struggling to swim 164 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 1: and you're struggling to get your head underwater, and they say, 165 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:57,679 Speaker 1: sometimes you just need to float. Right, That's what we're 166 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 1: going to talk about now. This component is very important. 167 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:05,560 Speaker 1: You want to think about what you can't control because 168 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:08,439 Speaker 1: psoicism it does not mean putting your head in the sand. 169 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:12,720 Speaker 1: It does not mean to abandon all activism, to stop 170 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 1: whatever you're doing. What it really teaches us is that 171 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 1: we should only be thinking about what we can control, 172 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:22,439 Speaker 1: so our own thoughts, our own actions, our own responses. 173 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: Everything else like others' opinions, external events like an election 174 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: that is ultimately beyond our control. You know, we cast 175 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 1: our vote, we educate our family and friends, maybe we campaign, 176 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:37,080 Speaker 1: but when the day is done, we can't control how 177 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 1: anyone else sees the world. And that is so frustrating. 178 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 1: Like I know, the feeling of talking to someone and 179 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 1: just wanting to grab them and say like, can't you 180 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 1: see what is happening in front of you? Can't you 181 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:53,960 Speaker 1: see this? Like this is not good? Use your brain, 182 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:55,959 Speaker 1: like can't you see this the way that I can 183 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,320 Speaker 1: see this? And that's not something that we have the 184 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 1: power over all the time. So stoicism also encourages excepting 185 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 1: when things are just shit. Things are just shit right now, 186 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 1: but you choose despite it all to close your eyes, 187 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 1: breathe in deep and find you're inner garden, find that 188 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 1: place within you that no one can touch, that nothing 189 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 1: can reach and sit within that space as everything kind 190 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 1: of rages on outside. You have all of us have 191 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:30,840 Speaker 1: an inner sanctuary that we can kind of water that 192 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 1: helps us endure and be resilient even in the hardest 193 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 1: of times. I like to picture, you know, my inner 194 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 1: stoic is this giant version of myself who is being 195 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 1: yelled at by someone. Some person is yelling and screaming 196 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:50,600 Speaker 1: at me, and they are full of hate. But what 197 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:53,320 Speaker 1: they don't know is that there is this like shield 198 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: around me that makes everything really muffled and slow. And 199 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 1: as I'm watching them like sweat and scream and spit 200 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:05,080 Speaker 1: and get angry, I am untouched by it. I am 201 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 1: just observing, even as that, you know, makes them more 202 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:11,840 Speaker 1: and more frustrated. This stoic version of me, this image 203 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:15,560 Speaker 1: is what I try and bring to these really uncomfortable, unfortunate, 204 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:19,960 Speaker 1: terrible situations like I'm a statue protected by a force field. 205 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:23,719 Speaker 1: And as I tune out what I can't control, this 206 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 1: like very angry situation, this angry person, I am allowed 207 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 1: to tune in and I am able to tune into 208 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 1: what I can. So what are the things you can control? 209 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 1: You can control your impact on people's lives. You can 210 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:41,440 Speaker 1: control the love that you show people. You can control 211 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:44,320 Speaker 1: what you give back to your community. You can control 212 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:48,959 Speaker 1: your activism, what you create, your vote, your current environment, 213 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 1: what you choose to consume, what you choose to believe. 214 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:55,959 Speaker 1: And the biggest one for me is I can choose 215 00:12:56,559 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 1: the kindness that I choose to bring to every city situation. 216 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 1: And this is a really really important part of my 217 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 1: life philosophy. One of the things that has brought me 218 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 1: through political uncertainty in Australia. And you know, we had 219 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 1: a recent I guess like referendum that was just absolutely 220 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:20,080 Speaker 1: terrible and what comforted me then when the world just 221 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 1: seemed very very ugly and hideous, was that I continue 222 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 1: to choose to make people believe in humanity and make 223 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 1: them believe in kindness. Every person that I come across, 224 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:34,839 Speaker 1: I'm going to make sure they leave and that they 225 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:37,600 Speaker 1: know love, and I will make sure that they exit 226 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 1: that interaction and they know that I respect them and 227 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 1: I care about them like I will be kindness. I 228 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:46,719 Speaker 1: will put back into the world what I want to 229 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 1: see more of. When we have this really deep personal 230 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:54,079 Speaker 1: philosophy in the face of political uncertainty and political anxiety, 231 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 1: you know, that can lead to less stress, better mental 232 00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 1: well being, and a greater sense of agency or capability, 233 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 1: almost like you have this very deep well that only 234 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 1: you control and that you can pull from in every 235 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:13,320 Speaker 1: single circumstance. And there was an amazing meta analysis which 236 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:19,240 Speaker 1: is basically a study of studies about this very thing, 237 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: about what it means to have a sense of purpose, 238 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 1: and it was done in twenty twenty three by the 239 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: American Psychiatric Association. And what they basically said, and what 240 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 1: they found was that when you have a deep belief 241 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 1: system and something that you trust and that you care 242 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 1: about and that you can look at and say, that 243 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 1: is why I'm here, this is what I'm going to 244 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 1: bring to situations, it builds greater resilience, especially when you 245 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:46,600 Speaker 1: were exposed to negative or on certain situations like those 246 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 1: that were seeing in these times, people who had this 247 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: deep belief system that they could rest upon, they were 248 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 1: so much more resilient and able to push through whatever 249 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 1: was going on. And I really really encourage you to 250 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 1: find your version of this. You can. You can steal 251 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 1: mine if you want, go for it. Please go for it. 252 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 1: Steal mine. But what is so important is that you 253 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 1: have something, and you have something that feels like your 254 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 1: own and that you can bring to your own universe. 255 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: And your own universe is you know the radius around you, 256 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 1: which goes on to touch everyone in your life, that 257 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: goes on to enter rooms, that goes on to make 258 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: an impact. Another part of embracing Stoic principles is really 259 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 1: focusing on being present now. I did do a whole 260 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 1: episode on this, I think a little while back, and 261 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 1: I cannot remember the number from the top of my 262 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: head worth listening to, especially right now. But part of 263 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:44,160 Speaker 1: knowing what you can control definitely means focusing on what 264 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 1: is actually going on in front of you right now, 265 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 1: and that really involves reconnecting with your senses. Just pause 266 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 1: for a second. What can you see? I want you 267 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:58,800 Speaker 1: to look for like five things right now that are 268 00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:04,640 Speaker 1: the color green? What is the furthest sound from you 269 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 1: that you can hear? Really pause, what is that far 270 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:12,560 Speaker 1: away sound? What parts of your body are touching, your 271 00:16:12,640 --> 00:16:16,840 Speaker 1: chair are touching, your steering wheel, touching the ground? Really 272 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:20,160 Speaker 1: like zone in on where like your skin is connecting 273 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 1: to a surface and in your immediate surroundings right now? 274 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: Is there any danger present in this moment, you know, 275 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 1: in your room, in your car, at the gym, wherever 276 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 1: you are, are you actually in physical danger? Is there 277 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 1: something that is going to hurt you right now? And 278 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 1: the answer is probably not. But the political anxiety we 279 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 1: do feel does make us feel like at any point 280 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 1: there is a threat that could come out and do 281 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 1: you some serious harm, and we have to try and 282 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:57,880 Speaker 1: minimize that feeling. Yes, in the future, you may experience 283 00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 1: really hard challenges. There will be things that you cannot 284 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:05,520 Speaker 1: control that may hurt you, but right now you cannot 285 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: be in that state of anticipating those things constantly. The 286 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:12,280 Speaker 1: pressure that you put on your body and your mind, 287 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 1: and like the level of cortisol that you will have 288 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:19,159 Speaker 1: flooding through your systems, the way that your immune system 289 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 1: is just going to be completely compromised by this constant hypervigilance. 290 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 1: That is something that we really do need to minimize 291 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 1: because then when something terrible does happen, If it happens, 292 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:33,959 Speaker 1: when something some big change does occur, what that's going 293 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:35,960 Speaker 1: to mean is that you don't actually have the resources 294 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 1: to deal with it because you spend a lot of 295 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: time worrying about it. So right now, I just want 296 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: you to remember that in the space around you, you 297 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 1: are not in danger. And in those moments when you 298 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 1: do just feel like all of your emotions they're rising 299 00:17:50,119 --> 00:17:54,560 Speaker 1: to the surface, they're like exploding. Really rely on the 300 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 1: very ancestral old ways, the tried and tested ways that 301 00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 1: our body can calm itself by reconnecting with nature. Nature 302 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 1: is just it's just so remarkable. In moments like this, 303 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 1: I want you to go outside, like right now or 304 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 1: after you finish this episode, take your shoes off, take 305 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:17,440 Speaker 1: your socks off, plant them like firmly in the dirt, 306 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 1: in the grass in the creek, and you know, the 307 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:22,239 Speaker 1: saying like go and touch some grass, Like yeah, go 308 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:25,960 Speaker 1: and touch some grass. Turns out, you know, that's actually 309 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:28,360 Speaker 1: probably something we should be doing more of. There's actually 310 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:31,680 Speaker 1: some truth and some serious good to that. There was 311 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 1: an article from twenty nineteen from Harvard Health and it 312 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 1: showed that just doing twenty to thirty minutes in nature 313 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:41,800 Speaker 1: a day, making that part of your routine, or even 314 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 1: just spending it in natural spaces like eating your lunch outside, 315 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:51,680 Speaker 1: it really helped lower hormonal stress levels because you know, nature, 316 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 1: the outdoors, when you think about it like that is 317 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:57,439 Speaker 1: the environment in which we belong. That is where our 318 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:01,199 Speaker 1: body has naturally learnt to calm itself down. That is 319 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:04,280 Speaker 1: where it feels most real and most connected. So in 320 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 1: those moments where like everything just feels so loud and 321 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:12,960 Speaker 1: angry and just so stressful, I need you to go 322 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 1: and access this very important you know, deep part of 323 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:21,359 Speaker 1: you that can feel connected to nature and know that 324 00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 1: it is safe in that moment. This is also very 325 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:27,720 Speaker 1: very good for climate anxiety, if that is something that 326 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 1: you're struggling with specifically right now, it can be very easy. 327 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 1: And to someone who is very anxious about the climate 328 00:19:34,119 --> 00:19:36,640 Speaker 1: and has many friends who are very anxious about the climate, 329 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 1: it's very easy to disaster scenario, especially when you're like 330 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 1: inside all day and when you're locked up in the office, 331 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:47,119 Speaker 1: it's like, ah, does nature still exists anymore? Because I 332 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 1: don't see it, and all I'm reading in these terrible, 333 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:53,280 Speaker 1: terrible news articles like it just makes everything feel so 334 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:56,560 Speaker 1: much worse. So when you do give yourself the opportunity 335 00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 1: to go outside and see that there is a lot 336 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:02,199 Speaker 1: about oh nowrual world that is still alive. There are 337 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:05,359 Speaker 1: beautiful spaces that are still thriving, just brings you back 338 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:07,680 Speaker 1: for a second, I also have a friend who does 339 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 1: like nature journaling, So she has a journal like notebook 340 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:15,400 Speaker 1: and a bunch of like colorful pens, and she will 341 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:18,080 Speaker 1: go out into nature and find a flower, a leaf, 342 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:21,840 Speaker 1: a river bed, a rock, anything beautiful, and she will 343 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:26,160 Speaker 1: basically journal about that situation that she's in, or s'll 344 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:30,400 Speaker 1: draw a picture of this leaf and it's actually really 345 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:34,479 Speaker 1: really beautiful, and she highly recommends it. So finding your 346 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 1: stoic persona, finding your personal philosophy, and being as present 347 00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 1: as possible. Those are my first three tips. We are 348 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 1: going to take a short break, but when we return, 349 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:48,239 Speaker 1: we're going to discuss my final three ways that we 350 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:50,639 Speaker 1: can deal with our political anxiety at this time, So 351 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 1: we will be right back in just a second. Following 352 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 1: really big political events or at like significant turning points, 353 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 1: when something major happens, our tendency is just to get 354 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 1: as much information as possible, to find any news site 355 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:12,239 Speaker 1: or any story that may tell us something that we 356 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 1: don't know. Such a human instinct to know more is 357 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 1: to be more aware, and is to be more capable 358 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 1: and more able to survive. That is really where our 359 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 1: hunger for knowledge, especially in these situations comes from, and 360 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 1: we feel very like bitterly and strangely soothed by knowing more, 361 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:34,520 Speaker 1: even when the thing we know more about actually makes 362 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 1: us want to like scream and throw up. That is 363 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:40,879 Speaker 1: how I felt the entire day. The other day was 364 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:43,240 Speaker 1: just like, Wow, I can't get away from my phone 365 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 1: even though it's making me physically sick. That is the 366 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:51,640 Speaker 1: paradox of doom scrolling, spending so much time online and 367 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 1: looking for more information and more sides to like an 368 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:58,000 Speaker 1: unfolding story that we actually end up hurting our mental 369 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:03,439 Speaker 1: health more than helping it. It is so easy to 370 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 1: fall into this trap, and it's one that I certainly 371 00:22:07,359 --> 00:22:11,160 Speaker 1: have over the years, glued to my phone even when 372 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:13,560 Speaker 1: I know that I'm just gonna feel worse. And the 373 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:18,200 Speaker 1: trick is to be informed but not overwhelmed. That is 374 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:23,440 Speaker 1: your equation, informed but not overwhelmed, And we do that 375 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:27,199 Speaker 1: by limiting how much you are allowed to keep investigating. 376 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:31,399 Speaker 1: I want you to have environments or points in your 377 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:34,320 Speaker 1: day when you are kind of allowed to be dead 378 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:36,919 Speaker 1: to what is happening in the world, whether that means 379 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 1: unfollowing like news accounts on social media, so that you 380 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 1: can only read the news on your laptop at work, 381 00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:46,560 Speaker 1: so that you know outside of business hours, like you 382 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 1: can't read the news. You know, you're still informed, you 383 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:51,520 Speaker 1: still know what's going on, but do you really need 384 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:54,159 Speaker 1: to know right now? In this instance, as soon as 385 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:56,399 Speaker 1: you wake up? You know, I found that to be 386 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:58,919 Speaker 1: so terrible for me. I would wake up, pick up 387 00:22:58,960 --> 00:23:00,720 Speaker 1: my phone, and it's like, here, this is a disaster. 388 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:03,919 Speaker 1: Here is like a bombing. Here is like you know, 389 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:07,679 Speaker 1: children dead, here is whatever, like here is Trump winning. 390 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:10,399 Speaker 1: I know I said I wouldn't talk specifics. I'm very sorry, 391 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,320 Speaker 1: but you know, when you wake up and that is 392 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:17,119 Speaker 1: the first thing that you see, what you consume is 393 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 1: how you feel. It's very much like your media diet. 394 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:27,760 Speaker 1: If your media diet is very high in tragic, awful, 395 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:33,880 Speaker 1: cruel things, your tiny brain, your human brain, it cannot 396 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:36,639 Speaker 1: hold all of that at the same time. You are 397 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:39,879 Speaker 1: not meant to hold all of that information at the 398 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:44,199 Speaker 1: same time. Truly, like think back to how we have 399 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:48,080 Speaker 1: evolved to seek information and from who it was tribal, 400 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 1: It was limited, There was not enough. You know, you 401 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 1: were never going to have enough information at that given 402 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:58,640 Speaker 1: point to feel like you knew everything that was going 403 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:01,360 Speaker 1: on in the world, because you you know as much 404 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:03,199 Speaker 1: as like it's a good thing that we do know 405 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:08,080 Speaker 1: so much more about our fellow humans and what they're 406 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:10,960 Speaker 1: going through. You have to just remember that your brain 407 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:14,119 Speaker 1: has not evolved to have as much access to information, 408 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:18,720 Speaker 1: So it is natural if you just feel completely confronted 409 00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:23,199 Speaker 1: by that, and especially when our news seeking gets very excessive, 410 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:27,000 Speaker 1: you will become burnt out, you will become fatigued. So 411 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:29,160 Speaker 1: for the sake of yourself and for the sake of 412 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:33,240 Speaker 1: having energy and effort to put towards really important things, 413 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:36,679 Speaker 1: to put towards those you love, to put towards your community, 414 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:41,600 Speaker 1: to put towards yourself, you do need to find a 415 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 1: healthy relationship with not just what news you access, but 416 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:51,280 Speaker 1: when you access it. So again, informed but not overwhelmed. Also, 417 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:53,560 Speaker 1: just sprinkle some good news in there, you know. There 418 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:55,760 Speaker 1: was a landmark study from just a few years ago 419 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:59,439 Speaker 1: from a university in Alabama, and it found that people 420 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:03,199 Speaker 1: who share and access positive news stories mixed in with 421 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:08,880 Speaker 1: their normal news. After two weeks, they reported being happier 422 00:25:09,080 --> 00:25:12,800 Speaker 1: and more emotionally stable. They felt more optimistic about the 423 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:15,840 Speaker 1: future than those who didn't, and it didn't mean that 424 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:18,119 Speaker 1: they didn't care. I think sometimes we're like, oh, if 425 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:21,240 Speaker 1: I feel optimistic, well, then I'm not going to be 426 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:24,080 Speaker 1: motivated to change anything. I'm not going to be motivated 427 00:25:24,119 --> 00:25:27,960 Speaker 1: to having conversations. I'm just not going to care anymore. Actually, no, 428 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:31,800 Speaker 1: we need optimism. We need to believe that things can 429 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:34,680 Speaker 1: get better. We need to believe that the world can 430 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:38,040 Speaker 1: be brighter. We need optimism more than we need pessimism 431 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:41,320 Speaker 1: in times like this. So just remember, if you're feeling 432 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:44,960 Speaker 1: like shit, your media diet might be a factor because 433 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:47,920 Speaker 1: you are what you consume. So if you need a 434 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 1: rest day from chaos and tragedy, no one's going to 435 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 1: blame you. No one's going to say that you're being 436 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:57,919 Speaker 1: naive or ignorant. You're having a rest day. It's okay. 437 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:00,520 Speaker 1: And you know, on a similar point, just as we 438 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:03,560 Speaker 1: are what we consume, we are also who we surround 439 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:07,439 Speaker 1: ourself with the power of community in times when we 440 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 1: are experiencing political anxiety. Cannot be overstated. Community is the 441 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:16,359 Speaker 1: most psychologically important thing in times like this. And I 442 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 1: know that is a big statement to make, but I 443 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 1: just think that it heals so much. It is so 444 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:25,880 Speaker 1: protective when it comes to our mental health during periods 445 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:31,040 Speaker 1: of political uncertainty in crisis, and it's so hard going 446 00:26:31,080 --> 00:26:35,080 Speaker 1: through anything alone, let alone, what feels like the world ending, 447 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:39,199 Speaker 1: let alone, what feels like a complete shift from what 448 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:43,040 Speaker 1: you expected. So this is really the time to engage 449 00:26:43,119 --> 00:26:46,240 Speaker 1: and connect even when you want to withdraw. And I 450 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:48,800 Speaker 1: will say that is a problem that I have when 451 00:26:48,840 --> 00:26:51,880 Speaker 1: I am emotionally confronted by something, when I'm quite stressed, 452 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:54,199 Speaker 1: I just feel like I have absolutely nothing in the 453 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:56,920 Speaker 1: tank to give to my relationships. So I self isolate. 454 00:26:57,320 --> 00:26:59,160 Speaker 1: I will pull away, I'll hide away in my house. 455 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 1: I don't want to see any I don't want to 456 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:03,200 Speaker 1: talk to anyone. I don't want to make plans. I'm 457 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:05,960 Speaker 1: not replying to messages. It's a terrible habit of mine, 458 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 1: one that I'm trying to break. And the way that 459 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:13,399 Speaker 1: I'm trying to break it is just consciously being like remembering, 460 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:16,800 Speaker 1: consciously remembering that when I am around people, I do 461 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:20,880 Speaker 1: feel better. Remembering that cause an effect that always typically 462 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:24,280 Speaker 1: typically happens. I don't feel better when I self isolate. 463 00:27:24,359 --> 00:27:27,400 Speaker 1: I do feel better when I'm around other people, especially 464 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:29,879 Speaker 1: people that I trust, that I love, that care for 465 00:27:29,960 --> 00:27:32,800 Speaker 1: me and I care for them. That is community, That 466 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:36,199 Speaker 1: is belonging. I will say at the moment, there is 467 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:38,679 Speaker 1: a tendency and I found this in my friendships to 468 00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:41,440 Speaker 1: just like catch up and everyone just has like it's 469 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:43,479 Speaker 1: just like what the fuck is happening, and just like 470 00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:47,240 Speaker 1: wants to talk about so much stuff and just wants 471 00:27:47,240 --> 00:27:49,639 Speaker 1: to you know, just wants to just get it off 472 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 1: their chest. That's healthy. There is a healthy level of 473 00:27:52,560 --> 00:27:56,720 Speaker 1: complaining and seeking comfort, especially just feeling shitty together. That's 474 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 1: sometimes just one of the most healing things in the 475 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:01,400 Speaker 1: world is just to be like, great, can we both 476 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:03,080 Speaker 1: agree that we're not in a good mood? Can we 477 00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:05,919 Speaker 1: both agree that we're not feeling great? Beautiful? Now I 478 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:09,560 Speaker 1: just feel a little bit less alone. But I do 479 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:12,080 Speaker 1: just want you to be conscious of when it gets 480 00:28:12,119 --> 00:28:16,400 Speaker 1: to a level where you just feel entirely hopeless. That 481 00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 1: kind of like collective anxiety that we tend to feel 482 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:21,919 Speaker 1: when we are in a big group or talking to 483 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:24,440 Speaker 1: our friends and everyone's just getting more and more angry 484 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:27,760 Speaker 1: and frustrated and scared. That is a symptom of when 485 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:30,960 Speaker 1: group psychology kind of lets us down. You know, it's 486 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:34,280 Speaker 1: not groupthink, It's basically just that when we are around 487 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:36,560 Speaker 1: people that we are close to we do tend to 488 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:39,040 Speaker 1: absorb their emotions and that tends to heighten our own 489 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 1: reactions to things. So please be conscious of it. Be 490 00:28:42,520 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 1: aware of it. I think that having a rent, having 491 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:51,120 Speaker 1: a debrief, just getting it off your chest, it's like 492 00:28:51,160 --> 00:28:53,840 Speaker 1: a plateau, like it gets healthy to a point. No, 493 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 1: it's almost like a wow, I can't remember my math, 494 00:28:57,480 --> 00:29:00,280 Speaker 1: but it's almost like an upside down you and someone's 495 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:02,480 Speaker 1: gonna tell me what that is. I just can't remember 496 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:05,400 Speaker 1: it right now. But it gets it feels healthy to 497 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:07,120 Speaker 1: a point, and then we flip over and we go 498 00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:10,280 Speaker 1: down the other side. There is a limit, so be 499 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:12,400 Speaker 1: aware of when it's doing more harm than good. I 500 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:16,000 Speaker 1: really learned this from my mom, and I learned this 501 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:20,360 Speaker 1: with my mum. Sometimes she is so passionate about these things. 502 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:25,280 Speaker 1: She is such a huge, you know, political and social activist, 503 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:28,240 Speaker 1: and she cares so deeply about every single human on 504 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:31,239 Speaker 1: this earth that sometimes and I know this is going 505 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:34,240 Speaker 1: to sound insane, but it's too much. It's like, Okay, 506 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:37,040 Speaker 1: I cannot talk about this at dinner for the fifth 507 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:39,680 Speaker 1: night in a row. I cannot yet, because I'm going 508 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:42,520 Speaker 1: to get angry. I'm gonna get really frustrated, I'm going 509 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:46,040 Speaker 1: to just feel like so sad and so like it's 510 00:29:46,240 --> 00:29:48,440 Speaker 1: you know, it just can't do that, you know, there 511 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:51,360 Speaker 1: has to be a break for me. So I often 512 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:52,840 Speaker 1: just say to her, like, we're going to do five 513 00:29:52,880 --> 00:29:54,880 Speaker 1: minutes where you can talk to me about we can 514 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:56,800 Speaker 1: talk to each other about you know, what kind of 515 00:29:56,880 --> 00:29:58,560 Speaker 1: terrible news story is going on, and we can talk 516 00:29:58,560 --> 00:30:01,760 Speaker 1: about politics or you just talk about whatever we want 517 00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:05,280 Speaker 1: to do with this thing, and then we have to 518 00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:09,200 Speaker 1: have a break because I don't want my relationship with 519 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:13,320 Speaker 1: you to be defined by feeling a heightened level of 520 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:16,720 Speaker 1: stress every time that I walk away, because I feel 521 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:19,360 Speaker 1: like all the world's problems are resting on our shoulders. 522 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:22,760 Speaker 1: So step away from conversations when you're at your limit 523 00:30:23,320 --> 00:30:25,560 Speaker 1: and truly ask yourself. I know it feels like a 524 00:30:25,600 --> 00:30:28,560 Speaker 1: selfish question, but do ask yourself like is this going 525 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:32,200 Speaker 1: to change anything? Is this going to change anything? Listening 526 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:35,760 Speaker 1: to this for like the fifth time today getting upset 527 00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 1: about it again, is it just going to make me 528 00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:40,600 Speaker 1: feel worse? And is it just going to mean that 529 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:43,479 Speaker 1: when it does come to doing something, I'm not going 530 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:46,280 Speaker 1: to have the energy for that. This is really what 531 00:30:46,360 --> 00:30:50,080 Speaker 1: I want to finish on You need to do something 532 00:30:50,240 --> 00:30:53,600 Speaker 1: with your anxiety, and the best way to do that 533 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:56,920 Speaker 1: is to start giving back. This is a perfect time 534 00:30:57,440 --> 00:31:01,040 Speaker 1: to really reflect on what you can be doing for 535 00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:06,000 Speaker 1: those that need it. Our anxiety and distress, it does 536 00:31:06,040 --> 00:31:07,720 Speaker 1: feel worse when we sit in it, and when we 537 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:11,200 Speaker 1: let it get bigger and bigger and bigger. By thinking 538 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:14,760 Speaker 1: that we can outthink all of the world's problems, that 539 00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:18,520 Speaker 1: we can outthink how shit the situation is. When we 540 00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:21,080 Speaker 1: can find a way out, We're going to return to 541 00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:25,720 Speaker 1: those principles of stoicism. Concern yourself with what you can 542 00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:29,680 Speaker 1: do and what you can control, and we can control 543 00:31:29,800 --> 00:31:32,560 Speaker 1: what we give back. Really start to think about a 544 00:31:32,640 --> 00:31:34,520 Speaker 1: cause that you could get involved in that makes you 545 00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:37,000 Speaker 1: feel like you can make a difference in your local community. 546 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:41,120 Speaker 1: Think we really don't acknowledge how much actually gets done 547 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:44,480 Speaker 1: on the backs of people who volunteer their time and 548 00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:47,760 Speaker 1: who care deeply and give their energy and give their 549 00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:51,800 Speaker 1: passion and give their money to a cause that they 550 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:54,840 Speaker 1: care about. And oh, my goodness, do they not make 551 00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:57,760 Speaker 1: the biggest difference in some people's lives. I want you 552 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:00,600 Speaker 1: to find that thing, that thing that really really drives 553 00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:03,800 Speaker 1: you and often here's a little tip about how you 554 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:07,000 Speaker 1: can figure that out. The thing that is most upset 555 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:10,040 Speaker 1: you about the situation, the thing that you feel most 556 00:32:10,120 --> 00:32:13,280 Speaker 1: upset to see threatened, That is what you care about 557 00:32:13,280 --> 00:32:16,280 Speaker 1: the most, What makes you the angriest, what makes you 558 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:20,000 Speaker 1: the most anxious, what really like lights of fire in 559 00:32:20,080 --> 00:32:23,520 Speaker 1: terms of your sense of justice, that is where you 560 00:32:23,560 --> 00:32:26,560 Speaker 1: should be devoting your time. Want to take all those 561 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:30,040 Speaker 1: feelings and transfer them into a way of giving back. 562 00:32:30,840 --> 00:32:33,600 Speaker 1: That is just one of the biggest antidotes I have 563 00:32:33,720 --> 00:32:38,000 Speaker 1: found to any form of anxiety, really, but political anxiety 564 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:41,000 Speaker 1: in particular is really and I just want to hammer 565 00:32:41,040 --> 00:32:43,800 Speaker 1: this home. You cannot control. There is so much you 566 00:32:43,840 --> 00:32:47,200 Speaker 1: cannot control, but your little slice of your world, your 567 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:51,000 Speaker 1: little universe, you can control that, and you can give 568 00:32:51,040 --> 00:32:54,440 Speaker 1: back and you can make that space happy. And you 569 00:32:54,480 --> 00:32:59,040 Speaker 1: can change people through small daily actions of kindness, and 570 00:32:59,080 --> 00:33:02,520 Speaker 1: you can, like you can seriously change their lives. You 571 00:33:02,560 --> 00:33:06,280 Speaker 1: can change people's lives by volunteering, by giving back to 572 00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:10,720 Speaker 1: your community. Feel like it always, you knows, being global citizens, 573 00:33:10,720 --> 00:33:12,640 Speaker 1: having so much access to the news, it feels like 574 00:33:12,640 --> 00:33:15,479 Speaker 1: we have to do something big constantly, and we have 575 00:33:15,600 --> 00:33:18,040 Speaker 1: to be like, you know, there's so much that's bad 576 00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:19,960 Speaker 1: about the world, Like, how do I fix it all? 577 00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:24,920 Speaker 1: You can't. I'm sorry you can't, but you can. You 578 00:33:25,080 --> 00:33:28,480 Speaker 1: can focus on something that the people around you need 579 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:33,560 Speaker 1: and be that solution in your local area and in 580 00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:36,840 Speaker 1: your friendship groups and with your family. I also just 581 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:39,240 Speaker 1: want to say a final reminder. It does feel really 582 00:33:39,280 --> 00:33:41,720 Speaker 1: scary right now. I know that there are a lot 583 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:44,959 Speaker 1: of unknowns, and I think a lot of us are thinking, 584 00:33:45,200 --> 00:33:46,640 Speaker 1: how am I going to be able to cope with this? 585 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:50,360 Speaker 1: What's the way forward? Remember that you are capable. You 586 00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:53,560 Speaker 1: will find a way through. You will survive. You will 587 00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:55,960 Speaker 1: be okay even when it feels like you won't be. 588 00:33:56,560 --> 00:33:58,880 Speaker 1: There are people who love you, there are support systems, 589 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:01,360 Speaker 1: There are people who are on the same page as 590 00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:04,440 Speaker 1: you who are not going to abandon you. So just 591 00:34:04,640 --> 00:34:07,640 Speaker 1: focus on the good as much as you can right now. 592 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:11,880 Speaker 1: Political anxiety and political uncertainty is an incredibly natural reaction 593 00:34:12,360 --> 00:34:18,279 Speaker 1: to changing circumstances that feel threatening and dangerous, and it's 594 00:34:18,320 --> 00:34:20,239 Speaker 1: okay to be feeling that way right now, but you 595 00:34:20,320 --> 00:34:23,440 Speaker 1: cannot exist in that space forever. There are a lot 596 00:34:23,480 --> 00:34:26,400 Speaker 1: of things that I hate to say, like it's not 597 00:34:26,440 --> 00:34:28,120 Speaker 1: that you have to get used to them. But it's 598 00:34:28,200 --> 00:34:32,920 Speaker 1: kind of like, Okay, cool, can't change that. What can 599 00:34:32,960 --> 00:34:35,600 Speaker 1: I change? What can I do? Let's focus on that. 600 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:42,560 Speaker 1: Let's really really lean into my friendships, my community, my kindness, 601 00:34:42,680 --> 00:34:45,960 Speaker 1: my purpose, my beliefs. This is something that's going to 602 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:49,319 Speaker 1: be very nourishing for me for this time. So I 603 00:34:49,360 --> 00:34:51,279 Speaker 1: am just sending a whole lot of love and a 604 00:34:51,280 --> 00:34:54,160 Speaker 1: whole lot of comfort. I hope that this episode has 605 00:34:54,239 --> 00:34:56,800 Speaker 1: just given you a bit of peace today, made you 606 00:34:56,840 --> 00:34:58,600 Speaker 1: feel a little bit better about the world, made you 607 00:34:58,640 --> 00:35:01,080 Speaker 1: feel like there is a space or you can come 608 00:35:01,120 --> 00:35:05,920 Speaker 1: to throughout whatever happens. You know, for comfort and for 609 00:35:06,200 --> 00:35:10,200 Speaker 1: peace and for safety. You're always welcome here. Your mental 610 00:35:10,280 --> 00:35:13,880 Speaker 1: health is respected and cared for here and will always 611 00:35:13,880 --> 00:35:16,200 Speaker 1: be cared for. And I just love that we have 612 00:35:16,239 --> 00:35:19,279 Speaker 1: such a beautiful little slice of the internet. So thank 613 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:21,520 Speaker 1: you so much for listening. I hope you got something 614 00:35:21,560 --> 00:35:24,440 Speaker 1: from this episode. I hope you enjoyed it as always. 615 00:35:24,520 --> 00:35:26,640 Speaker 1: If you did, please feel free to leave a five 616 00:35:26,680 --> 00:35:31,360 Speaker 1: star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you're listening right now, 617 00:35:31,840 --> 00:35:34,160 Speaker 1: make sure that you are following along for new episodes. 618 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:37,480 Speaker 1: I'm going to do an episode specifically on doom scrolling 619 00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:39,080 Speaker 1: in a couple of weeks, because I feel like that's 620 00:35:39,080 --> 00:35:41,200 Speaker 1: something that you know, I just couldn't get into and 621 00:35:41,280 --> 00:35:44,280 Speaker 1: want in like in this episode, there's so much information 622 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:49,680 Speaker 1: about it psychologically, emotionally, like scientifically, sociologically as well, So 623 00:35:50,239 --> 00:35:53,520 Speaker 1: stay tuned for that episode, And if you have anything 624 00:35:53,560 --> 00:35:56,680 Speaker 1: more you want to say and any suggestions for episodes, 625 00:35:57,040 --> 00:35:59,839 Speaker 1: you can DM me at that Psychology podcast. We would 626 00:35:59,880 --> 00:36:03,200 Speaker 1: love to hear from you over there. Until next week, 627 00:36:03,440 --> 00:36:06,920 Speaker 1: Stay safe, stay kind, and the most important of all 628 00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:11,279 Speaker 1: this week, be gentle with yourself. We will talk very 629 00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:11,839 Speaker 1: very soon.