This week was mid-term elections, and as with most elections these days, it was heated. Because our country is pretty much divided almost equally, no matter the outcome, about half of the people are thrilled… and half are disgusted.
I saw patients on both ends of the emotion spectrum, and it got me thinking. No matter what you are feeling about the results of this election, at the end of the day, your life moves on. Had you not known there was an election, and somehow managed to avoid any news, this week would be no different for you than any other week.
No matter what party is in control, no matter who has the majority of the House or Senate, no matter who is your congressman or governor, the quality of your life is primarily in your hands. It is your decisions, lifestyle choices, and commitment to discipline, hard work, and sacrifice that ultimately shape the life you live. If your marriage is not doing well, you must work on it. If you are out of shape, overweight, and struggling with health issues, you have got to commit to change. And if your finances are in shambles, you must alter your spending habits, work harder, and get a plan in place.
Who must work on things? Who must commit to change? Who must work harder and get a plan in place? YOU! No one else is responsible for making your life better. And no elected official will ever solve your problems. I don’t care if you are a Republican or a Democrat, or if your party won elections or lost, no one is coming to save you.
How long does it take for us to realize that even as the balance of power swings back and forth, promises that were made go unfulfilled, our lives aren’t affected too drastically, and at the end of any term we, as individuals, are pretty much the same as we were at the beginning of that term? At what point do we lessen our emotional immersion into these politics?
I am not saying that politics are not important, or that those in charge do not affect the direction our country heads, or that we should do our part when it comes to sharing opinions, ideas, and voting. What I am saying is that regardless of the outcome of any election, those results will not majorly affect our immediate lives. Therefore, we cannot let the results create exaggerated optimism or dramatic pessimism.
As individuals, we must commit to creating the lives we want no matter what. It has been said that nothing is ever as bad as it seems or as good as it seems. It is what it is. Throughout my lifetime, I cannot say that any election, no matter how good or bad I thought the outcome, affected my life in a way that altered it dramatically. And I refuse to let any outcome of any election give me false hope or paralyze me.
Nothing will impact the quality of your life and the lives of your family members more than the time, energy, and effort you put into it. Circumstances change, policies change, leadership changes, and there will always be swings in our political system, but no matter what happens in Washington, you can still have an incredible, prosperous, and happy life. If you are waiting for the government to make that happen, you’re in for a long wait. Get to work on your life now. Do not get bogged down in politics of any kind. Your energy and emotions are better spent on advancing your own life. And at the end of the day, I will always be proud to be an American, feel fortunate to live in this country, and remember that I have more opportunity and freedom here than anywhere else in the world.
