zlacker

I really welcome this move. I couldn't get out of bed on Nov 9th and a few hours of introspection later, I realized I have no control over any of the Political changes and that I shouldn't be causing myself so much stress.

So I stopped watching the news -- both online and on TV -- since Nov 9th. It's been an incredible month for me since then.

I've made significant progress on my languishing side-projects ( a Show HN coming soon in Jan 2017!!!) and am generally less stressed and more mindful and happy.

I made a conscious effort to stop watching news and ride out the next 8 years (I expect Trump, like Dubya, will get Re-elected in 2020). I still need my "tech" fix, and visit only HN since I gave up the news. Yet I found a few Trump stories on HN recently, so this is a great move.

Thanks mods!

>>sean_p+(OP)
Thank you for taking advantage of that introspection. it must feel weird when you first realize that approximately half the population disagrees with you.

I believe that, if more people in the United States felt the way you did, we could have world peace in a generation.

>>anonba+t9
Actually, the entire population disagrees with you, about something. The "realization" is that a lot of the things we disagree about, are actually kind of boring.

>>sean_p+(OP)
I hope you recognize that you can only opt out of being stressed about politics because you're not on the receiving end. :/

>>ben0x5+6i
> because you're not on the receiving end.

Nope. I actually am at the receiving end. 2 of my cousins are married to illegal aliens (both Mexican women) and 1 couple has a child born here (so citizen).

Still I had a moment of clarity when I realized that

1) Trump was indeed Democratically elected, and 2) I don't gain anything by fretting over and stressing over after reading 1 bad news after another about his policies, because I really can't do anything as a single person (unless, of course, I make 1 issue my life long pursuit, then it's different).

I've chosen to focus on my Circle of Control and reduce or altogether eliminate my Circle of Concern

Related Reading: Circle of Control vs Circle of Concern: => http://www.jdroth.com/images/circle-concern-control.jpg

>>sean_p+gC
An excellent choice.

Perhaps I shouldn't comment without having more to add, but I just wanted to support this very healthy perspective. It is a much calmer way to go through life, and not limited to politics!

>>sean_p+gC
Thanks for the graphic.

For anyone else, the original article discussing the graphic: is here [0].

[0] http://www.jdroth.com/becoming-proactive/

>>sean_p+gC
Interestingly I had my moment of clarity when I realized my Circle of Control can be far larger than what I had believed it to be.

Most humans believe in your viewpoint, but the truth is power is gained from groups. We are all simply a node in a larger network. Accepting and embracing that is the key to growing the Circle of Control. Becoming part of the right network alters the Circle of Control of the individual.

Don't get mad, get organized.