Feeling post-election anxiety? You are not alone. Here's how to persevere. | Opinion

The election was tumultuous and left a heavy residue of anxiety for some. If you count among the 70 million Americans who voted in hopes of a different outcome, you may be shouldering some of this anxiousness.

Anxiety is driven by uncertainty. This is not new; the future is always uncertain. What follows are perspectives about how to persevere amid not knowing what comes next:

Refrain from blame, practice acceptance and be aware

First, identify the problem. When we perceive a threat, fear sets in. Fear is dangerous. It compels reaction versus responsiveness because our decision making is less sound when we are afraid. If you harbor fear, okay. And, remember emotions – while valid – are rarely objectively accurate.

Refrain from blame by acknowledging no one person or group of people is the problem. That’s unfair. More helpful is to regard behavior as the problem. Behavior can change. Start with yours to take back a sense of control. Next steps are about how to use your behavior to help your brain.

Second, practice acceptance. The United States is a republic, the defining feature of which is power held by citizens, who in turn elect representatives. The Declaration of Independence is clear: Governments should be established “deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” We had the opportunity to choose between two paths and one prevailed. This is the democratic process. It is foundational to the American identity.

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So, too, are civil liberties and civil rights. Steadfast adherence to both is key in the years ahead to ensure there are opportunities for continued political engagement. Bearing that in mind, the acceptance encouraged here is for the result — not an agenda, nor degradation of constitutional norms.

Third, pursue awareness. There is anxiety and there is disquiet. Maybe it is also despair, which includes helplessness. Whatsoever you feel, do not push it away or hide. It could also be surprise at what you feel. Take time to work through it.

We have all survived a singular experience until now. Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood said the same: “No one else can live the life you live.” This means we are the experts of our own lives and emotional experiences.

Avoid isolation, find common ground and move forward

The fourth step is to seek belonging. Isolation only serves to embolden anxiety. For relief, share your concerns with someone you trust. Relief is learning you are not alone; it is the exhale and it is the shoulder-drop that follows.

Conversely, invalidation and minimization are not appropriate. If your typical supports cannot show up in a healthy way, find different pillars to lean on who are able to hold all of you with empathy. If you are troubled by a sudden emotional absence from someone with whom you disagree, it does not mean they are a bad person. See it instead as an opportunity to show up more fully for yourself.

Fifth, find common ground. While our passions and disappointments may catalyze feelings of defeat or bewilderment, we would do well to remember those feelings are in all of us, regardless of political preference. As much as we have the right to lament, those who voted differently have the right to celebrate.

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Mutual respect is the expectation — and the right thing to do. Respect for one another is an additional layer of what it means to be American. For 33 years, Fred Rogers taught children to “Imagine what our real neighborhoods would be like if each of us offered… just one kind word to another person.”

And finally, decide to move forward. Anxiety is the cornerstone of change. We are in the throes of change. The easiest way out of any distress is through. Weather the uncertainty alongside those willing to walk with you and worthy of lifting your spirits.

Be a helper: Get involved in organizations making a difference

Use what you feel as the impetus to be kind in greater ways. The secondary beneficiary concept holds that to help others is to also help yourself. Join local initiatives, create robust communities. When Fred Rogers was young, his mother said to him, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” Be one of them.

Civil society is strong in the United States. The American Civil Liberties Union is an example. Its capacity to hold people and organizations accountable is mighty.

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If you are concerned about conflict, exude equanimity. Those who pick fights with kindness are left with a poor reflection of themselves. This reflection is visible to the audience and public scrutiny is powerful.

Freedom is what you do with what happened to you. Beginning with your behavior is the first and best way to communicate what you wish to see from others. It is the golden rule, really, and to practice it is to grow goodness wheresoever you walk.

Bethany Rentsch is from the Oshkosh-Rosendale area. Romana Ottolino, from Seattle, is also a contributor.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Fear of unknown weighing on Harris voters. How to persevere. | Opinion