Smart Political Self-Care
A strategic approach to sustaining dialogue in a toxic environment.
Hello everyone!
Here are three smart tips of the week PLUS two inspiring quotes and one excellent resource.
3 Smart Tips
Being a political activist is hard. Being a “smart” political activist, focused on building bridges rather than divides, is even harder.
When I talk with fellow progressives about persuading Republicans, they often acknowledge this work is important, but balk at the notion of doing it themselves. They say the emotional toll is too high and their mental health is more important.
There's certainly truth to that. We all have limited emotional energy, and engaging in persuasive dialogue can be taxing. But caring for yourself doesn’t have to mean opting out of smart politics. As long as you’re strategic about the way you invest your emotional resources, you can engage powerfully with Republicans without burning out.
Here are three self-care tips for sustaining your ability to do this dialogue work.
1. Watch where your emotional energy is going: It’s easy to get sucked into a cycle of outrage, especially when media are always blasting provocative news about Trump and the GOP. News channels like MSNBC may be accurate, but they intentionally keep you in a constant state of fight or flight. Not only is this exhausting, but by lowering your threshold for getting triggered, it makes calm conversation a lot harder. Instead of letting these sources sap your energy, focus your attention on media that keep you informed without draining you. For example, my capacity for dialogue increased dramatically when I stopped watching television pundits and started following a handful of sources that kept me up-to-date without overwhelming me with negativity.
2. Build your emotional tolerance with self-guided exposure therapy: Many of us have the potential to be emotionally stronger than we may think we are. But just as you wouldn’t start lifting the heaviest weights on your first day at the gym, don’t dive into the most challenging conversations without first building up your emotional muscles. One way to get there is by borrowing a page from the exposure therapy playbook. Try watching right-wing media in short bursts or listening to speeches that normally get your blood boiling—but do it while practicing deep breathing exercises. Stay engaged and keep your cool until you feel your nervous system beginning to settle down. Remember, your feelings won’t hurt you. Learn to ride the wave of your discomfort rather than giving in to the urge to run away. Over time, your body will naturally acclimate and you’ll get less triggered. Gradually increase your exposure to build your tolerance over the long term.
3. Don’t go at it alone: Bridging divides by yourself can feel overwhelming. Working alongside a group of like-minded folks can lessen the burden and make the journey more pleasurable. Think of it as having training partners—it’s more fun when you’ve got people to share the experience with and who can encourage and advise you when the work is challenging. That’s why we have a weekly Smart Politics Sunday night group at 8 pm ET where we discuss our successes and challenges, supporting and educating one another in the process.
2 Smart Quotes
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
-- Audre Lorde
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”
-- Anne Lamott
1 Smart Resource
One way to improve your self-care is to practice mindfulness—focusing on your inner and outer worlds in the present moment while maintaining an open, curious, and non-judgmental attitude. While it originated in ancient spiritual practices, mindfulness has been studied by psychology and neuroscience researchers because of its well-documented cognitive and emotional benefits.
There are many excellent books for getting started with mindfulness, but one of my favorites is Buddha’s Brain: The practical neuroscience of happiness, love, and wisdom by Rick Hanson. More than just a self-help manual or meditation primer, this highly accessible read clearly explains the scientific principles that make contemplative practice so powerful.
Though the book says nothing about political dialogue per se, following its recommendations can significantly improve your tolerance for challenging conversations.
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That’s all for this week. Thanks for reading!
Remember, Smart Politics offers regular free webinars for progressives who want to be more persuasive in their political conversations at home, in their communities, and on the campaign trail. You can sign up for upcoming events on Eventbrite.
Speaking of events, our next FREE webinar is next Wednesday, April 10 at 8 pm ET. Sign up now to learn what it really takes for people to change their minds. This 90-minute webinar explains the science behind persuasion and introduces the two key tools you need to start influencing Republicans—at home, in your community, or on the campaign trail.
Ready to get hands-on with persuading Republicans who’ve fallen down the right-wing rabbit hole? Sign up for our new “It’s Not Too Late” Substack, the official source of regular information about our national project helping progressives deradicalize loved ones and bring voters back from MAGA.