Election Peace Challenge Day 1

It’s ten days until the presidential election, and you may be feeling more stressed than ever. Just think of the thousands of voices in your head from candidates, activists, and influencers, not to mention all those who are trying to reach you through phone calls, broadcasts, and online polls.

When you couple that noise with deep concerns about our future, you may have trouble sleeping, focusing, paying attention. You may be taking on the energy of the world around you.

It’s important to take care of yourself during these days of uncertainty so you can find equilibrium within. The chaotic world around you is never going to line up perfectly to make you happy, so the key is to find peace inside you no matter what the rest of the world is doing.  

For the next ten days, I’m going to share short ideas on how to find that peace. Easy things you can do in spare moments during your day to relax, breathe, and find a quiet place inside yourself.

Ways to move your body and expand your heart.

Simple ways to refocus so you can regain perspective.

Ways to find harmony for yourself so that you can spread a little of it around you as you go through your day.  

I’ll keep it simple, since simplicity is such a blessed thing in a world of so much noise.

Ready? Here’s Day 1 of your Election Peace Challenge.

Rub your feet. I’m not kidding. Your feet are your foundation, so they need some extra attention at a time when your world seems off kilter.

I ignore my feet all the time—until I remember how much work they do for me every day. Heroic, unremitting effort deserves at least a simple thank you now and then. And when I give myself some loving kindness, I’m more likely to do the same with the people around me.

So set aside 15 minutes and give your feet some TLC. Massage them. Rub them. Clean between your toes. Work them over with a pumice stone. Wiggle those beautiful toes that keep you in balance as you walk. Trim your nails, and apply the best-smelling lotion you own.

Well-tended feet will carry you where you want to go. And maybe we’ll all feel a bit more grounded when we say thank you to our feet.

Side benefit: You can’t be grateful and worried at the same time. Or angry. Or afraid. So any moment of gratitude is a moment of peace inside.

Turn off the news, put on your favorite music, and rub your feet. When you tuck them into your favorite cushy socks or between a clean set of sheets, you’ll have brought a little bit of peace to your world, just when you need it most.

Now take a deep breath. It’s going to be okay.

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