11/03/2026
For those of you who don't subscribe to Amanda's "A Mindful Minute" weekly email reminder to practice mindfulness (https://fundamentalgrowth.com/), here's what was sent out this morning about participation:
An important part of mindfulness practice—perhaps the entire point—is to participate completely in life. Simply watching the world unfold around us isn’t going to bring us fulfillment, but thoughtful engagement with the present moment will.
In the United States today we have our midterm elections. Say what you will about politics and the “democratic process,” but for true democracy to exist we must (all) participate. And voting is one way to participate in building a society that works for all of us.
I’m not going to tell you who or what to vote for, or provide you with a voting guide, but instead leave you with some guidelines to vote mindfully:
Look at the facts, things that have actually happened (observed with our traditional five outer senses). Avoid the misinformation and disinformation people like to spread around social media. If someone says they’re “going to” do something, have they already done similar things? Are they working in that direction and can point to legit accomplishments in that area? They’re more likely to continue that work with more support.
But also, notice how you feel in your body. If you get the ick when a candidate speaks or read a legislative bill, use that feeling to do some more research. That’s often a sign that something isn’t aligned. Either their words don’t match their actions (a sign of deceit) or you don’t have all the facts. In the same vein, if you feel at ease and confident with candidates or legislation, that gives you information, too. Don’t rely entirely on your feelings (they can also be in reaction to stories you're telling yourself), but they’re still an important piece of our intelligence. When they get you to pay closer attention and learn more, that can only improve your decision making.
Be kind and compassionate. Whether we like it or not, we’re all in this group project together. Voting to support all of life doesn’t mean you’re going to lose anything. In fact, you’ll ultimately gain far more.
Make decisions from a grounded space of peacefulness and dare I say, love. It can be a challenge, but fear often blinds us to reality and choices made from illusion tend to lead to more struggle.
No matter the results, continue to practice mindfulness. Life is always moving; change is the only constant. Remain grounded and present. Whether or not your candidates of choice are elected or the legislation you support passes, there’s work to do. The inner work of being honest with yourself and truly aligning actions with values, and the outer work of boots to the ground. Voting is only one part of a democracy. There are never-ending opportunities to be involved in creating a society that thrives. Democracy only dies with apathy.
Los Angeles, California therapy, coaching, and consulting. Trauma-informed ecotherapist and mindfulness educator in LA specializing in climate grief and climate anxiety, crisis counseling for natural disasters, depression, ADHD, neurodiversity, creative blocks, addiction, electronic addiction, and r
