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The U.S. presidential elections often bring up a mix of strong reactions across the spectrum of political perspectives. While election results can be exhilarating for some, they may stir fears and anxieties for others—particularly in areas touching on climate change, safety, social power dynamics, and personal agency. From an Internal Family Systems (IFS) perspective, these reactions are not just “surface-level” thoughts or emotions; they’re expressions of our internal “parts,” each carrying its own needs, beliefs, and responses to external events.
Let's explore the ways these parts might be activated during the election period and how we can work to stay connected to our Self-energy—a space of compassion, calm, and clarity that can help us navigate this complex emotional landscape.
Parts Reacting to Climate Risk and Global Safety Concerns
For many, one of the pressing concerns during any political transition is climate change and global safety. Parts of us may feel overwhelmed, anxious, or even hopeless when thinking about the planet's future under certain political leadership. A part focused on climate risk may hold beliefs like, "The world is in serious danger," or, "We’re running out of time." This part may feel fearful, restless, or even angry, worrying about the consequences for future generations.
It’s vital to recognize and honor this part’s intentions; it’s trying to protect us and the planet. By offering compassion and understanding from a Self-led place, we allow this part to feel acknowledged, creating an internal space where it can trust that its concerns are seen and valued without becoming overwhelmed by despair.
Parts Sensitive to Power Dynamics and Personal Agency
Another set of parts may become activated by the broader dynamics of power and personal agency. These parts may have strong responses to seeing powerful figures taking on leadership roles, especially if they sense that those figures could affect our individual freedoms or safety.
For example, parts concerned with personal agency might react to election results by feeling disempowered or even helpless. They might carry beliefs like, "I have no control over what’s happening in the world," or, "The decisions of powerful people are going to impact my life, and I can’t do anything about it." On the other hand, for some, parts may feel a sense of relief or safety in seeing strong, confident leadership, equating this with stability and security.
These contrasting parts can sometimes spark inner conflict. However, by inviting grace into the dialogue, we give these parts room to be heard without judgment, acknowledging both the vulnerability of parts that feel threatened and the comfort of parts that find reassurance in strong leadership.
Pessimistic and Optimistic Parts
Election results often evoke both pessimistic and optimistic parts within us. Some parts may feel hopeless, especially if they’re aligned with beliefs that things are going in the “wrong” direction or if they foresee long-term negative impacts. Conversely, other parts may feel hopeful, perhaps seeing new opportunities or feeling energized by the prospect of change.
Rather than forcing one side to "win," IFS encourages us to hold both perspectives with curiosity and kindness. Acknowledging the fears of pessimistic parts while also celebrating the hopes of optimistic ones can help foster an inner balance, allowing us to remain grounded even in times of political upheaval.
The Importance of Self-Energy and Grace
In the face of divisive and emotionally charged events like a presidential election, it’s easy to feel pulled into polarization—not just externally, but internally. We may even find parts of ourselves reacting strongly against other parts or feeling frustrated that we can’t "just be neutral." This is where Self-energy becomes invaluable.
Self-energy, the core of our compassionate, calm, and curious inner leader, provides the grace and patience we need to hold space for all of our parts. From this openhearted place, we can appreciate the diversity within ourselves as well as the diversity of responses in others. Staying anchored in Self-energy allows us to hold differing inner reactions with openness rather than judgment, promoting understanding and respect.
Practicing Open-Heartedness Toward Others' Activations
It's not only our parts that respond to the political climate—those around us may have parts that are equally activated in different ways. Some might feel joyous about the election results, while others may feel anxious or fearful. An IFS approach encourages us to approach others with the same grace and curiosity we extend to our parts. By recognizing that each person’s reactions come from parts formed by unique experiences, fears, and hopes, we can create a compassionate space where differences don’t have to lead to disconnection.
Moving Forward with Compassion and Awareness
The path forward after any election is rarely simple, but by giving grace to ourselves and to others, we can approach this period with a deeper understanding and connection. Whether you have parts that are pessimistic, optimistic, fearful, or hopeful, each is deserving of patience, respect, and compassion. By acknowledging and welcoming these diverse parts, we cultivate an internal environment of balance and harmony, even in the face of external uncertainty.
In doing so, we give ourselves the freedom to respond to the political climate—not as one overwhelmed by fear or clinging to certainty, but as a person rooted in compassion and resilience.
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