The Politics of Recovery

Navigating a Divisive Election with Recovery Principles

Anyone else need to take a really deep breath today?

The past several months in politics—or more like years—have been stressful, draining, disappointing. In may ways, what I see reflected back to me on social media, in the news, on Substack, is not dissimilar to what was familiar in my years in active addiction:

Anger.

Resentment.

Bitterness.

Blame.

Pride.

Photo by Viktor Talashuk on Unsplash

Now, I’m not siding on one side of the aisle or the other today (I’ve got friends on both “sides”).

Perhaps, as my friend Ericka Anderson recently shared, thinking in terms of sides may be just adding fuel to the flame of divisiveness:

“Do you see how we are all so nuanced, layered & complex?

We are so much more than what people think about us based on how we vote.”

Tomorrow is election day, though the length of the official election may not be as certain as it once was when many of us were kids.

[context: for those younger than me, we used to wake up the next day knowing who was going to be POTUS]

No matter who you plan on voting for, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or afraid.

However you are showing up right now, you are not alone.

Let’s see how recovery principles can help us this political season.

Photo by Christopher Ott on Unsplash

The principles of recovery help many of us find and sustain a long-term way of being that is healthier, freer, and true. Recovery principles can help us to get through any situation or trouble that may come, not just relieve us of the obsession of using or the hurt or hang-up that is troubling us.

As someone who has walked the path of recovery, I believe these principles can offer us valuable guidance and support for any kind of life experience or challenge. Share with a friend who may need extra support this week because of politics or just because we are human.

7 Ways to Navigate a Divisive Election with Recovery Principles

Acceptance

Who loves the serenity prayer? Did you know that the original prayer is much longer than the one many of us grew up reciting at the beginning or end of recovery meetings? [take a peek]. Acceptance does not mean agreeing with everything, just like forgiveness does not always mean forgetting. We can accept differing opinions or differing realities of our neighbors and still love, have compassion, and try to respect one another.

Presence

I just wrote an article this past weekend that many of you resonated with that focuses on finding stillness and presence. Appreciating the moment and abiding. It is so easy to get swept into the emotion of the moment. What if we fought back against the storm? What is we connected spiritually instead of fighting against the world for just a moment? Being thoughtful instead of impulsive? What if we remembered that we are all in need of peace, in need of presence?

Compassion

I recently heard this phrase: “compassion is at the heart of recovery.”

What a beautiful sentiment and how true. When I think of compassion, sometimes I confuse this with pity. I feel so bad for the person who is struggling…but am I suffering with them? [the root of the word—another English lesson for you all—is “to suffer with”]. How can we take this heart of recovery into this week as many of us fear instability and the unknown? I think that we can remember behind every person is a set of experiences, struggles, hardships, and sufferings. Our choices are sometimes born from these challenges and other circumstances. Let’s bring a spirit of compassion this election week, with the goal of listening with empathy and not judgment.

Boundaries

In recovery, it is pivotal to set healthy boundaries for our mental health and well-being. The same goes for a divisive and heated election season. Setting boundaries around things like social media usage, news consumption, or other types of exposure to negative news (maybe it’s that family member on “the other side of the aisle”) can be a help line to draw while prioritizing caring for yourself and loved ones this week and the weeks that follow. Don’t be afraid to remove yourself from unhealthy conversations or toxic situations in a respectful way.

Support

One of the most important principles of recovery is to seek support. Not just when we are struggling, but at all times. Do you have a group of healthy peers, friends, family members, colleagues, or neighbors that you can connect with and have honest conversations about how you are feeling about the election? Talking about it is an amazing way to reach out and reach in and hang on to what really matters.

Solutions

Oftentimes, the click-baity media (or perhaps always?) focuses on the negative, the cringey, the hard. One of my favorite recovery saying that I heard early on was to “stay in the solution.” Now this may sounds a bit 12-step jargony and it is. But there is important truth here for all of us, I think, at this time. Let’s focus our eyes on hope. Let’s try to find common ground. Let’s engage in healthy conversations and take positive actions like volunteering in our communities or showing up in other ways for those we love.

Gratitude

Thankfulness is a power tool in recovery. It helps us to refocus on what is good and true and lovely. It shifts perspectives. There is a reason why many folks in recovery recommend to newcomers who are struggling: “write a gratitude list.” Because it works! During this election, we can get bogged down in the negative. There is no shortage of hard, even harmful things out there right now. Taking a moment and re-focusing on what we are grateful for can make all the difference.

It is an honor to participate in the election, to have a voice and a vote. Those of us who have this freedom do have much to be grateful for.

Yet, we cannot deny that these are trying and troubling times in many ways. My hope for you—for us—this week is to remember these tips, to stand firm, and to re-center when needed. We can apply these principles of recovery to overcome this or any other divisive election.

As in recovery, so to in election season: we can get through anything together.

Helpful Resources

My friends at Mobilize Recovery have a great article on managing anxiety during the election season: Navigating Anxiety in Recovery: Prioritizing Self-Care During the Election Season.

The Recovery Advocacy Project created an Election Wellness Guide to give you ideas on how to prioritize your recovery and wellbeing during the election cycle.

Here is my favorite verse this season: Philippians 4:8

How are you feeling? What’s helping you get through this season?

I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment or send me a direct message. You aren’t alone.