America has spoken. Trump will once again occupy the White House, and the Republicans will have a majority in the senate. The future of the house is unknown as of this writing.
Here are some things to keep in mind as you help your clients navigate the transition to a new administration.
1. Remember that some Americans are celebrating and some are grieving.
Incidentally, many of your clients believe that their circumstances create their feelings. “I’m burned out because of my job, and if I get another job I’ll be okay.”
We all face the same circumstance: Trump is our next president. So why don’t we all feel the same way? It’s because our thoughts about our circumstances–not the circumstances themselves– create our feelings.
Our ultimate freedom is our ability to choose our thoughts.
2. Remember that some Americans see Trump as the safe choice and others see Trump as the unsafe choice.
Leading up the election, each candidate laid out the dangers if the other assumed power. This morning about half of Americans experience themselves and our democracy in grave danger. They fear for the future of this country.
3. Remember that we make poor choices when we feel unsafe; we make better choices when we feel safe.
When we perceive ourselves to be in danger, our nervous systems prepares our bodies to fight, flee or freeze. In so doing, it leaves the calm regulated state to become dys-regulated.
What does a dys-regulated nervous system look like? Think of a toddler having a temper tantrum.
In this dys-regulated state, we often make poor choices. Think of the kinds of investing choices your clients make during turbulent financial times.
Normalize your clients’ danger response; the instinct to fight, flee or freeze is part of the human condition mediated by the autonomic nervous system. This very name of this part of the nervous system tells you that the response not under voluntary control.
To make good choices, our first best step is getting back to calm. Here are a few ways to help your clients get back to a regulated nervous system:
- They can say to themselves, “Right here right now I’m safe.”
- They can in take deep breaths in which the exhale is longer than the inhale. When we’re running for our lives, we do not have time to exhale. When you consciously change the rhythm of your breathing, you tell your nervous system, “Look, here’s evidence that I am safe.”
- Click here to discover other grounding techniques.
4. Remind your clients that catastrophizing is not useful.
We do not know what will happen because the future has not been created yet.
Our worst fears may come to pass, or they may not.
5. Step up.
Harris and Trump offered two different visions for the future, and Trump’s won. But what was that winning message? Tighter borders? Vaccines?
Pundits opine that in the end the majority of individual Americans voted on their ability to improve their own personal economies.
And that, my Friend, is what you do professionally.
Get the word out about how you help your clients, and help more of them!
6. Spend less time talking and more time listening.
Each of your client will respond to our circumstances in their own unique ways. The only way you’ll know is by asking. Where are they struggling? What problems can you solve?
Each source of client pain is a business opportunity for you.
7. Offer hope.
For many grieving people, the major source of pain is their answer to the question, “Who is this person who voted differently than I did?” What does it mean to be a good American?
America is filled with people of strength and resilience and creativity. Americans have lived through adversity, and we found a way through it every time.
No matter what you think of Bill Clinton, here is his hopeful thought.
“There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.”
We all have a job being our best version of an American patriot. We can all strategically choose our thoughts and manage our nervous systems. We can be part of the solution to whatever unfolds.