“In the past two weeks have you been feeling down, depressed, or hopeless?” You recognize that question if you’ve had a clinic appointment recently. But did you know that right now many patients are responding, “Well, except for the election I’m okay.”
It’s not unusual for people to feel anxious about an election, but this year the situation is more pronounced than ever. And adding to the stress is the fact that it could be days or even weeks before we know who the next president will be and if the result will be accepted by the side that loses.  
So, what can you do?  
Recognize you have the power to have peaceful, respectful conversations with your neighbors, friends, and families. Yes, sometimes this involves avoiding political topics, but trying to understand rather than change another person’s point of view can lead to a better relationship. 
If we can understand one another, we can find solutions to the issues that negatively affect our lives. If we can listen to each other we can understand what values we have in common. That way even if our neighbors have a different political view, we can still borrow a cup of sugar, or help with something more serious. 
Where can you find help trying to bridge the political divide? Here are some tools from Braver Angels.org and Braver Angels MN that may help: 
1. Try to depolarize yourself a bit. Think of one good thing about what the other side stands for. Think of one thing from your side that you disagree with. There is a free online “Depolarizing Within” workshop that takes about 40 minutes to complete at the Braver Angels website. Go to BraverAngels.org>Have an Experience>Take an eCourse. https://tinyurl.com/mswprmec. Other eCourses are on Managing Difficult Conversations, Family and Politics, and Skills for Bridging the Divide.
2. Prepare for personal post-election anxiety. Reach out to a person who votes differently but whom you feel you can approach. Have a conversation, even briefly, before and after the election.  Recognize that their anxiety and fears may be very much like your own even if their positions are not. 
3. Remind yourself to exercise your “empathy muscle” and remember that you can love your friends and family members without agreeing on everything or even understanding why they think the way they do.  
The Ely Braver Angels Alliance has gatherings about every three weeks at different times and locations to maximize the number of people who can attend at least occasionally. We also recommend:
1. Braver Angels of Minnesota has a short video to help with those “challenging conversations.” 
https://tinyurl.com/yc33yecw
2. This Braver Angels podcast focuses on how we can become better consumers of the news: 
https://braverangels.org/a-braver-way-episode-18/
3. “Turning Down Our Own Anxiety,” by Julian Adorney: 
https://braverangels.org/turning-down-our-own-anxiety/
4. A segment of The Spark podcast features a Braver Angels segment about “How to Prepare for the Election: No Matter Who Wins.” 
https://tinyurl.com/sxtpw46k
Join the Ely Braver Angels Alliance and engage with us regularly in our mission to build a more civil community.  We hold skills workshops and discussions focused on local and national issues (and delicious cookies!). Check out our Facebook page at Ely Alliance Braver Angels for information or email ElyBraverAngels@gmail.com to sign up for occasional newsletters.  
Johnnie Ferderber
Nick Wognum, Co-Chairs,
Ely Alliance Braver Angels