Turning Anger into Action: Transformative Ways To Release And Channel Post-Election Frustration

As we await the United States Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20th, you may still be navigating your post-election frustrations. The uncertainty of the next four years and the continual disappointment of the democratic system may have you upset, to say the least. How do we honor our inner rage and give space to express this emotion safely? Anger is multifaceted, as it typically comes with underlying feelings of sadness, disappointment, or even betrayal. When we care, we can easily become upset by a situation, which is a natural human response. The key and the goal is not to suppress the frustration so that it doesn’t physically stay in our body. Unexpressed emotions can lead to mental health issues like depression, illnesses, and, in the worst cases, cancer. Using frustration as an ally in a healthy way can be a pathway to making continual changes in your community post-elections to see the changes you want. You have a right as a citizen to be furious about the state of the government, especially as the policies are systematically disproportionate to the BIPOC community. When we are navigating extreme anger, it’s important to create a plan to address it mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Mindfulness Tools to Express Anger Mentally

Journaling: Sometimes, there is so much we want to express and say when angry. Our thoughts get weighed down by the circumstances, and we can find ourselves replaying situations that upset us. We may want to share our truth by any means necessary and yell, argue, or cause verbal abuse. If we hold our tongues, we risk digesting the frequency and stomaching bad energy for our bodies. We can’t always say what we need or want unapologetically. This is where journaling can aid us. It’s a safe place to let out the rage without hurting anyone. Get a piece of paper, bring up your notes on your phone, or start scribing on your laptop. Let it rip, word by word, and let yourself deflate the anger from your mind into a tangible physical form to release space for clarity. When we are upset, we can be blinded and unable to find solutions. Giving yourself space to write it out can help you get it off your chest, bringing us a sense of calm to center ourselves to listen to the next logical steps.

Meditation: Another way to support us amid post-election and inauguration anger is to find ways to calm our minds. Meditation can help you keep cool during collective changes that are out of your control. Sitting and embracing silence may not come easy, especially if you are a beginner to the practice. Be gentle as you incorporate this practice, the key is to watch your thoughts as they wander away. Be the observer and bring them back to the breath. Some days, you’ll feel great after your meditation practice, but other days, you may feel like there is no shift. Regardless, this discipline helps prepare the mind to stay focused in times of great upheaval, giving you the advantage of moving through these difficult times with clarity. There are various meditation styles you can explore. I recommend exploring guided meditations. Check out Lil Jon’s Total Meditation album to find your equilibrium. Incorporating mantras like Om Mani Padme Hung, Om Namah Shivaya, or another can help center your thoughts with repetition to allow the mind space to find stillness.

Physical Ways to Release the Rage

Cathartic Release: In Chinese medicine, anger is related to the liver, which is the organ that holds the energy. When our liver is holding too much of this emotion, we can erupt, or if we are suppressed and don’t express it, the anger can disrupt our inner peace from the inside out. Let’s be honest; anger isn’t inherently bad. It should be respected and honored productively. In the words of the character Anaszi from a scene in American Gods, “Angry is good. Angry gets shit done.” But blind rage will only derail our cause and further distance us from collective change for the long-term shifts we want to see as a society. The key is finding a healthy outlet to GO OFF, like going to the gym or martial arts, a sacred practice to explore the warrior inside you while blowing off some steam. Learning to tame your emotions and target them strategically through muay thai, capoeira, or boxing can help you physically exert the energy needed to transmute the anger.

Nervous system: If you’re not up for punching a sparring mate or moving too much, focus on mindfulness practices that address your nervous system to bring it back to a parasympathetic state. That’s when your body is in the “rest and digest” state. You have to get out of the stressful “fight or flight” state that anger can bring to get there. Once in a calmer space, you can assess the best course of action. The quickest way to altar your nervous system is with breathwork. Only some people find meditation a calming activity in the beginning since it is considered more of an advanced practice, so following the breath can be a more straightforward pathway to calm. First thing first, are you breathing correctly? I know it may sound strange, but the majority of adults breathe from their chest, causing more anxiety, and don’t use their diaphragms to properly inhale into the belly. As you inhale, your stomach should expand outwards as you breathe in and deflate as you exhale. Practicing breathwork helps us restrain ourselves to take deeper breaths that reduce cortisol levels and lower our stress. You can also explore a lymphatic drainage self-massage to reduce stress, release stored emotions, and benefit your overall health. Protecting your nervous system is an act of rebellion and often one that is overlooked.

Honoring Spiritual Practice To Aid Your Frustrations

Ancestral Altars: Have you ever wondered where some of your anger comes from? Yes, there is your personal story, and as BIPOC, we also carry the ancestral rage of our lineage. The injustices that they endured have been passed down into our DNA, filling our bodies with the wounds of an unbalanced society still unable to serve us respectfully. Our ancestors’ struggles deserved to be honored, and their pain transmuted. Practices like creating ancestral altars can help us build relationships with our lineage to heal and contribute to community growth. Connecting to our roots can be a nourishing way to ground us. Witnessing the extreme conditions our ancestors overcame is a reminder that we will prevail no matter the political climate. Lean on your great-grandparents and light up a space for them to support you from the spirit realm.

Anger is a teacher that asks us to dissect the origins of our anguish. Are there other underlying emotions that we also need to address? At times, we don’t have the words or understanding of what we are feeling. That’s when creative expression can bring us a sense of release. Making art can soothe our soul, even if you don’t consider yourself an artist. Grab some colored pencils, buy affordable watercolor paint, or create a mood board on Canva to transform your anger into something tangible. As we embark on a new four-year journey with Donald Trump, remember your anger is an ally; channel it to create the change we need in this world. Get mad enough to make a difference, be an activist, or join a grassroots movement on a cause you want to fight for. Don’t be a victim to your emotions; learn the power of finding your calm to harness the solutions for a better future.