How Will You Deal With Your 2016 US Election Political Hangover?

What happened yesterday is history. What happens tomorrow is a mystery. What we do today makes a difference – the precious present moment. – Nick Saban, head football coach, University of Alabama

I can safely say this wasn’t the article I planned to write this week. But due to recent news stories, I need to change tactics.

What story could I be talking about? Perhaps the fact there were actual snakes on an actual plane in Mexico?

Anyone have a 20 on Samuel L. Jackson?

Anyone…?

Of course, I’m talking about the 2016 United States Presidential Election. What else did you think I was talking about?

This isn’t a political article. This isn’t even about the President-Elect. This is about the emotional hangover many of us have: anger, sadness, fear, and hatred.

But this isn’t a political article. This isn’t even about the President-Elect.

This is about the emotional hangover many of us have: anger, sadness, fear, and hatred.

I get it. A lot of people woke up this past Wednesday in a state of shock. We (and yes, I’m including myself in this) feel like we just took a Mirko CroCop left kick to the head.

Mirko CroCop is the former UFC fighter who knocked a few folks out with that kick to the head. Y’know, in case you were wondering…

Look, we can wallow in our grief. We can get angry. We can hate. And we can be scared.

But we can choose outside of our default way of being and choose a different path.

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By the way, choosing outside of the automatic and default way of being and creating a new path is one of the capstones of life coaching. Anyone know any good life coaches?
Here’s the path I’m going to choose. It’s a path that isn’t the easy one to take. It’s going to take work. It’s going to be a challenge. And it’s going to be a struggle at times. But the world needs this now more than ever.

That path is to be a beacon of love.

Love will always win. Love has been the light of the world since the dawn of civilization.

I’d like to issue a challenge to every person reading this article today. Be and do what it takes to become a beacon of love.

This is not the easy path to take. It’s easier to hate someone than it is to truly love them. Why? Let me explain.

To fully love another being means to fully understand them. Sometimes it takes work to understand people who are different than you. It takes patience.

It’s not easy to fully understand someone. But it’s worth it.

Here’s the path I’m going to choose. It’s a path that isn’t the easy one to take. It’s going to take work. It’s going to be a challenge. And it’s going to be a struggle at times. But the world needs this now more than ever.

Think about it. Sometimes that person you might not understand may end up being the other half of your heart. Just understand them.

Because all love is, is a cardiac covalent bond. Heart-based connection.

What does being a beacon of love look like?

I don’t have the answer. It looks different for everybody. I mean, there are over seven billion people in the world. I believe there are more than seven billion different ideas of what being a beacon of love means.

But I have some suggestions.

Love yourself: it isn’t possible to be a beacon of love without loving yourself. Be your own beacon of love and let your light illuminate the way.
Smile: this should be easy. Right?! A smile can brighten someone’s day when they need it the most.
Be polite: again, this should be easy. Hold doors for people. Let the driver change lanes in front of you. Just be a good person. Little things mean a lot.
Appreciate those who are different: this may be the most important. As I said before, to truly love another, you must understand and appreciate them on a deep level. That takes effort. Are you ready to take that on?

I started this article with that quote from Alabama head football coach Nick Saban. That quote really means the world to me, and not just because of his job title.

If we worry about the what if, we’ll worry ourselves sick. If we worry ourselves sick, we get scared. And if we’re scared, that keeps us from being a beacon of love.

Now more than ever, I’d love to connect. Spots in Team Ryan Coaching are going fast. Reach out to me for a free sample coaching session to see if we can support you in getting your own beacon of love to shine a little brighter.

Here’s how to connect.