In a stressful election season, it can be easy to feel as though everything is at stake and that the future of our country, our communities, and our values rests entirely on the outcome of a single election. If a protest sign could summarize the general feeling, it would be, “If you are paying any attention at all, you should be FREAKED OUT.” True as it may seem, acting from the place of overwhelm is generally unadvisable.
I offer two time-tested strategies for grounding ourselves with ancestral wisdom as we face oncoming elections: Acceptance and Perspective. These offer a realignment of inner resources to help manage the onslaught of certainty-laced fear that dominates so much of our public and private domains.
We have access to collective memories and perspectives, even as living conditions shift over generations. We remember that things are always changing—sometimes to our liking, and sometimes not. When we hold multiple perspectives, emotional realities can shift. Giving ourselves permission to more deeply accept the larger rhythms of the world outside our control can reduce anxiety, even despair. Acceptance here is not meant as a form of avoidance, but as attunement. As if our ancestors are speaking to us, saying, “We have seen this before, and we have moved through it. We have language to name this moment in time and we have depth of view to move beyond the overwhelm it can generate.”
While it is certainly possible that we are facing existential threats, how we respond is always a choice. The ancient words of Ecclesiastes, made famous in the 1960s song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” written by Pete Seeger, offer us this perspective literally cultivated from the wisdom of our ancestors: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” History unfolds in seasons, some filled with hope and others with fear; some marked by progress and others by painful setbacks. This doesn’t mean that our choices don’t matter or that we should stop fighting for what we believe in. Rather, it reminds us that no single moment is the whole story. We can take our responsibilities seriously without allowing the anxieties of the present to consume us. Our task is to act with courage and integrity in this season, while remembering that seasons change and the work of building a better world continues.
The following is a modern continuation of that ancient poem. I hope it can help those of us feeling that election dread. You can sing along with it!
(Chorus) To everything
(Turn, turn, turn)
There is a season
(Turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose under Heaven.
(Verse 1 theme: Conflict)
-A time for us, a time for them
-A time to forgive, a time for revenge
-A time to be fragile, a time for thick skin
-A time for curiosity, a time to dig in
-Keep score and never give in.
-A time to forfeit and just let them win
To everything…
(Verse 2 theme: Self)
-A time to be right, a time to be wrong
-A time for silence, a time for song
-A time to contract, a time to expand
-A time to not understand
-A time to make space for self-compassion
To everything…
(Verse 3 theme: World Outlook)
-A time for knowledge, a time for wisdom
-A time for “yes and,” a time for zero-sum
-A time for truth, a time for lies
-A time for changing your mind
-A time to see the world through G-d’s eyes.
To everything…
(Verse 4 theme: Inner resources)
-A time to drop out, a time to enroll
-A time to release, a time to control
-A time for more, a time for less
-A time to reassess
-A time to resist, a time to accept
To everything…
(Verse 5 theme: Strategy)
-A time for results, a time to reflect
-A time to manage, a time to neglect
-A time to be brave, a time to aim
-A time to play the long game
-A time to stand proud, a time to face our shame
To everything…
(Verse 6 theme: Future)
-A time to act, a time to pray
-A time to do more, a time for a break
-Time for decisions to make
-A time to live for the sake of who’s next.
Perhaps the wisdom of “Turn! Turn! Turn!” is that we don’t have to respond to every moment in the same way. Sometimes we need to stand firm, and sometimes we need to soften. Sometimes we need to act, and sometimes we need to pause, reflect, and pray. And sometimes we need a more creative combination of various types of responses. The challenge is learning to recognize what this particular season calls for in ourselves, in our relationships, and in the wider world. As you move through this election season and whatever comes next, ask yourself: What time is it for me right now? What might this moment call me to release, reconsider, or embrace? And how can I respond in a way that serves not only my own needs, but the world I hope to help create for those who come after me?