In all honesty, I’ve never been a very political person. It’s not that I lack conviction, but that I quickly become VERY cynical when it comes to politics and over the years have generally been apathetic in my participation in the political process. I’m not proud of this, but I blame this on (in no particular order), my sense that I can’t personally make a difference, a blessed life which leaves me grateful rather than lacking, my desire to maintain a positive attitude, my dislike of internal and external conflict, my need to understand and try to relate to all sides of the issues, often without resolution, and the fact that I just generally find it difficult to sort through it all sometimes. Regardless of my previous feelings about politics, things were a bit different with this election (UNDERSTATEMENT) and I felt my core values rise up in me in ways that they haven’t before.
My intention isn’t actually to write a political post, but a post on well-being. But we are in this moment right now. As someone who seeks to inspire others toward a better sense of well-being, who happens to have a blog, I can’t completely ignore this topic altogether. In my recent anxiety, I have found it very difficult to be inspiring and positive, and have had difficulty living into what I feel I have been called to do, and this is a problem.
Fortunately, I’m over it now.
Much has already been written about all of this. I don’t have any answers, inspiration or advice. These are purely my own reflections.
During this election season our well-being has been under full scale attack. Elections bring out the worst in people and all this negativity has been hard on our hearts. From ALL sides, our deepest core values as human beings have been challenged. And it’s broken a lot of hearts.
I am someone who seeks comfort and answers by seeking God. As I’ve tried to process through my own reaction to the election this week, I’ve reflected on this verse from Proverbs, which to me, gets to the heart of well-being.
“Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23
I think the wisdom here gets to the heart of the reason why I’ve felt so overwhelmed. I thought my heart was safe-guarded, because I know my hope is not in politicians. But I’ve learned a lot about myself this week. I’ve learned that I care more than I thought. That I care enough for my heart to break.
Guarding our hearts doesn’t mean closing them off to our country or the world’s pain. It doesn’t mean shutting them down or being stingy with our love, saving it only for those who think and believe as we do.
Our hearts are the very essence of who we are. What’s in our heart manifests in both words and actions and becomes how we live our life and express our deepest values. Our hearts are what connect us to others.
Due to the emotion of this election, we are being forced to take a good, hard look inside our own hearts to sort through our feelings, core values, beliefs, and fears, beyond the issues, social and economic policies, and party lines. This will inspire some to seek ways to live out their beliefs beyond just casting a vote a certain way, others might find themselves more open to discovering the hearts of others who are different than them. I don’t know. Not everyone will do the heart work, but I’ve been inspired by some of the conversations I’ve had this week and know that there is hope for our collective well-being after all.
We can guard our hearts by banishing fear and raising up grace instead. And then sharing our goodness with others (ALL others) in the best way we know how. We can be bolder and braver. We can show up with what’s good in our hearts and put it to work. To live into our callings with passion and purpose, using the gifts we’ve been given.
We can live for something bigger than ourselves. We can love deeper. We can give more. We can acknowledge that every interaction we have during the day is an opportunity to make a difference, with a smile, with generosity, with kindness. We can hold ourselves to a higher standard than the one set for us. We can serve. We can respond to the plight of desperate people with compassion and practical help. We can deepen our faith. We can be kind and show mercy. We can forgive. We can live a life that matters.
I’m going to try to do better at this, because it’s all us. Just doing our thing day by day, with others and for others.
That’s how we guard our hearts. That’s what we do to be well.
