The national angst around tomorrow’s election is palpable. Regardless of the winner, approximately half the country will be enraged. For months, I have agonized over the election and the direction the country will take afterwards. But the reality is this: I have no control over the situation. By no means am I powerless. I voted, encourage others to vote, and did what I could to support my candidates.

But will I choose to grateful or hateful after tomorrow?  Hate consumes us and eats at us from the inside. A steady drip of hateful thoughts blackens our soul with or without our awareness. Our brains seek justification for our beliefs. Yet, when we blame and shame others it keeps us, and others, stuck. To move forward, we must consciously choose the direction we want to go and direct efforts towards that end.

As a baby boomer, I have been blessed to witness the growth and transformation of our country and to be a part of those efforts to change. By protesting the Vietnam War, boomers sought to create a better life for ourselves and our children. In many ways our generation succeeded. Yet, many of us no longer actively seek to enrich the lives of those beyond our immediate circle of influence or to make far reaching changes. Perhaps we have recognized we can’t change the world unless we’re willing to change ourselves.

The words to the song “Let There Be Peace on Earth” gives us a solid structure to build a more peaceful world: let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. The lyrics go on to say to “take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.” This is not an easy task as we may see much social unrest after this election. But we can keep a peaceful attitude ourselves.

Rather than arguing over the election results and attempting to convert someone with an opposing belief system to our way of thinking why not instead surround them with peace? Peace begets peace. Judgment begets judgment. Hostility begets hostility.

We may think by doing this we are agreeing with their viewpoint. This is not so. Turning the other cheek does not mean offering ourselves up for further abuse. Instead it means turning our cheek to direct our view to something else.

Like everything else in life, this too shall pass. Choose a reaction to the election results that transcends and empowers you.