Note: This article was first published in The Quarterly Journal of The Life Planning Network (LPN-Q).
The election season has been long and rough. There are many serious issues affecting older adults on the table. However, I feel the need to address the deeper, more fundamental issues relating to our collective human experience, our management of controversy, and our health, particularly as older adults.
I have not often felt elevated by the rhetoric of this political open season, and I know I’m not alone. I know this not only because of conversations with my friends and acquaintances, but also because our very roots as a species have programmed us to want and need more. This isn’t just about wanting to hear more from our better angels, it’s about wanting to hear more of what’s consistent with our very DNA, and more of what will help me age in a better way. I know at this point you’re puzzled so allow me to explain.
We are not wired for this political campaign
For most of the time we’ve walked the earth, over ninety-nine percent in fact, we’ve organized ourselves into small groups, villages or towns. We succeeded as a race because we did this and because we adopted certain principles of social intercourse. One of these principles was the primary role of the common good as an overriding rule of conduct. Societal and individual action was guided, for eons of our history, by an indisputable respect for what was best for the group over the individual. Actions that chose individual gain over what was best for the greater number, in fact, often resulted in exile from that society.
The characteristics of our ancestors, ones that allowed them to survive, have been passed on to us and are the very basis for our health and successful aging; characteristics including abundant daily movement, continued learning and growth, strong social connection, and meaningful roles for all ages. Concern for others and the common good has also been associated with a better aging experience. Data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, a long-term effort that has studied a cohort of over 10,000 high school graduates until the present day, found that those who volunteered for reasons involving helping others had less mortality than those who did not volunteer AND those who volunteered primarily for motives involving self. In recognition of these advantages, the United Nations, as well as many European governments, are encouraging more citizens to volunteer, particularly for larger reasons, such as public health and safety.
Our current political scene seems, however, to be dominated less by what is good for the greater number, than what is good for Me. In fact, single issues are often cited as the reason for preferences of one candidate over another with little consideration of other, more far reaching, policies. This Me vs Us view is clearly at least partly responsible for many of the less than inclusive policies proposed by candidates as well as the passionate support of one candidate or party over another. It is also the antithesis of both the behavior that has characterized previous human societies, and what has been shown to be an important basis for healthy aging.
Breaking news: Politics can hurt us
One of the more powerful research-documented characteristics associated with successful aging (staying at high levels of performance for longer and longer) is high meaning and purpose. The ten-year long MacArthur Foundation Study on Aging found it to be a necessary component for a better aging experience. My nearly twenty years of experience with more than 25,000 older adults, has taught me that robust meaning and purpose that promotes healthy aging, almost always involves other living things … the greater good. Ellen Langer, Harvard researcher in psychology, has shown us that simply taking care of a plant improves mental and physical health as well as life expectancy. We are in a health risk minefield when our personal issues conflict with that of the common good.
Immersed in a political environment filled with acrimony, accusations, and fear mongering, we are in a swamp of negativity. The strong emotion of this election has become, more than I have experienced in my many previous elections, an overt disdain for the non-preferred candidate. This disdain, rather than a positive attraction, is the motivating force for choice of candidate.
The research is clear: those with a positive, optimistic view of life and its events live seven years longer than those who slog along on the dark side. To me, that is the lesser of evils.
Stress has been solidly linked to increased risk for heart disease, cancer, dementia and depression, whereas a mindful, compassionate view of others is associated with healthier outcomes. A polarized view of issues or candidates (savior vs. demon) leads quickly to a black-and-white view of the future … my way or catastrophe… and a consuming, destructive stress at the thought of the “wrong” candidate being elected.
If a self- absorbed view of the issues, negativity, fear, and stress characterize our current presidential campaign, and we are all the worse for it, what do we do?
Consider …
This election IS important. Whichever way it goes will indeed reflect our values and affect the lives of many. That said, answer these questions:
· Do you truly feel you can change the opinion of someone on the other side of the issues?
· How do you feel when you are immersed in a political discussion?
· Do you have confidence in our democratic process?
Your answers will, I hope, provide some overarching perspective on this election. Allow me offer some suggestions on surviving this political assault on our health and aging experience.
What to do about …
Stress: When faced with any stressful situation, realize that the stress is mostly self-induced. There is a challenging situation, and it is how you’re responding to it that creates the stress. There are only three rational ways to respond to these situations:
1) Fix it or make a plan to fix it.
2) Walk away.
3) Accept it.
So, relative to this election:
1) VOTE! Perhaps work for a candidate. Concentrate on telling the story of your candidate’s positive qualities rather than smearing the opponent.
2) Don’t listen or read the election drama and dirt. You probably know by now who you’re voting for so take a break from it all.
3) Accept that candidates, as all humans, have flaws. Accept that our political process is a dehumanizing mess, and there’s nothing that you can do to change that.
Me vs. US: Look beyond how you might be affected by the election of a particular candidate and investigate how those in your wide circle of family, friends, acquaintances and colleagues would be affected. Definitely look beyond your social-economic peers. And how about the world situation? No matter how you may slice it, the United States plays a major role in the world. We cannot focus only on domestic issues. Look for the greater good.
Negativity & Fear: Realize that these are now – unfortunately – acceptable tools for bashing your opponent. We wish it weren’t so, but here it is. Take that break mentioned above. Resolve to vote not so much against the negative qualities, but FOR the positive qualities. This is a less emotional, more rational, and less dangerous approach.
The Buddha told us we are what we think about; that all that we are arises with our thoughts; and with our thoughts, we make the world. What kind of world do you want?