Americans are getting what they want. Who am I to speak against the overwhelming majority?

The morning after the election, I went back to work. “Hard work keeps the wrinkles out of the mind and spirit,” says Helena Rubinstein. She makes sense in that quote.

Did I feel a passing sense of sadness about the confirmation that the majority of Americans are supporters of fascism, showing their true colors by voting for the candidate that incited the January 6th insurrection? Did it bother me that the majority of Americans voted for a convicted rapist and felon? Yes. Do I think that putting a fox in the henhouse is a problem? Or giving the bank thief the combination to the bank safe less than smart? Yes.

But it wasn’t long before I remembered Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius. Didn’t they suffer worse hardships? Sure they did.

  • “If a person gave away your body to some passerby, you’d be furious. Yet you hand over your mind to anyone who comes along, so they may abuse you, leaving it disturbed and troubled.” —EPICTETUS
  • Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for. — Epicurus
  • “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” -Epictetus
  • “You shouldn’t give circumstances the power to rouse anger, for they don’t care at all.” —MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 7.38

What would I wish we had?

  • A President-elect who respected people, who could have obtained office without appealing to white supremacy and discrimination
  • A President-elect who would give women control over their own bodies, allowing them to work with medical doctors to decide what is the healthiest course of action in any given situation involving unborn children
  • A President-elect who had not embraced the ignorant, delusional, science denial (think RFK and vaccines)
  • A President-elect who respected the military and did not put over them a person who has no experience and whose competence is in question from the very beginning
  • A President-elect who would have supported Ukraine against a tyrant, in the same way other countries supported the USA during the American Revolution, when thirteen colonies revolted against a King across the waters

There are many more things I would wish for, but none of these have happened in spite of my feeble efforts (e.g. voting, speaking to neighbors). So, I do not get angry. I make plans.

Maybe it’s time to plan for Negative Visualization.

A Few Negative Visualization Steps

#1-Taking Stock

Start by taking stock of things that are valuable to you and note them down.

Spend 5–10 minutes working through one of the categories you previously noted.

Do the following:

1- How would you feel if that was taken away or no longer possible? 2- How would you minimize the impact of losing that? 3- Come up with a plan to prevent or recover from loss?

#2-Dichotomy of Control

Now that you’ve done that, group what you’re in control of and what you are not.

There are other steps to take but that’s not a bad start.

Perhaps, Amor Fati is the best approach. Look at the spectacle ongoing and say, “Good. I will rejoice in what I have, avoid worrying about things which are beyond my ability to control, and make the best of what is in my power. The rest? I will take it as it comes.”

Estoy Bien

Yes, I am well. ;-)