By Lynn Kellogg
When in town I’ve taken to joining a weekly tai chi class. Promoted as “moving meditation” or “the gentle martial art”, it seeks balance in life. With different movements, you inhale the energy you need and exhale what you don’t need. Its positive impact on mental and physical health is proven.
One of the most interesting principles of tai chi recognizes the Yin/Yang of life. The Yin and Yang are opposites and symbolize all the opposites of life, all the polarities and contradictions that together make the whole of our experience. The perpetual goal is seeking balance. Interesting concept for these times.
Rich Harwood of the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation visited locally a few years ago with the Community Grand Round series to suggest the polarization plaguing the country was misdiagnosed. When small groups of people from opposite sides got together for meaningful dialogue, they found more similarities than differences.
His Institute conducted hundreds of discussion groups across the country and concluded “Divisions in the country are intrinsically about social and psychological conditions – such as fear, anxiety, and a lack of empathy and belonging – than about ideological polarization.” Local people insisted that the majority of everyday Americans were not polarized by ideology.
Today it seems blame is the game, a dangerous reality as it only drives people apart. The use of blame by leadership condones its use and fuels acceptance of violence.
Arie Perlinger, professor of security studies at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell comments, “Because politicians are incentivized to use extreme rhetoric and extreme language, that leads to demonization of political rivals.”
Experts warn that the more heated the political environment becomes, the more likely it leads unstable people to commit violence. Perceived lenience towards violence fuels the fire. The FBI has created a new category called Nihilistic Violent Extremism for the increasing number of attacks without political motivation.
The number of attacks and shootings across the country, political or not, are being studied and often linked to mental illness and anxiety. Going back to Harwood’s conclusion that divisions relate to fear, anxiety, and a lack of empathy and belonging, it fits.
What can one do about this? I’ve always been inspired by Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
We can stop playing the blame game and ask others to do the same. We can dialogue with people who have different views, agreeing not to become disagreeable.
And importantly, we can guard our own mental health for coping with situations in this country and around the world, situations that don’t have easy solutions.
How to guard one’s mental health? It varies by person but often involves being in the present, not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. Finding time every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes, to quiet your mind to feel the present is important.
For me, tai chi helps. Also, a breathing exercise taking a full five seconds to inhale, holding two seconds, then taking a full five seconds to exhale can help. I repeat this three times.
Walks in nature always help. Prayer and connecting to one’s God can help.
Social connections with people who share your beliefs can help you know you’re not alone. Be careful though, not to let it turn into a negative rant. Share positive discussion as well to find the right balance.
If anxiety or anger still gets the best of you, perhaps a therapist could help. Don’t sink to despair.
Do you know older adults that need help? Region IV Area Agency on Aging (AAA) received national recognition in July for launching behavioral health counseling to address the critical shortage of accessible mental health services for older adults and caregivers.
Called Breaking Barriers, this groundbreaking initiative brings licensed clinical social workers directly into the homes of older adults and caregivers, providing counseling for depression, anxiety, grief and substance use disorder.
Breaking Barriers bills Medicare and is credentialed through health plans for coordination with primary care providers. Call the Info-Line for Aging & Disability at 1-800-654-2803 or visit www.areaagencyonaging.org for more information.
Hard times but we can get through it.
Lynn Kellogg is former CEO of Region IV Area Agency on Aging in Southwest Michigan. Questions on age or independence services? Call the Info-Line for Aging & Disability at 800-654-2810 or visit areaagencyonaging.org. The Generations column appears each weekend in The Herald-Palladium.