Should We Really "Keep Calm and Carry On"?

Here we are, election day, 2024. We’re all bracing for heightened emotions, difficult conversations, and a seemingly endless cycle of stress-inducing news. In times like these, there’s a strong pull to "keep calm and carry on," adopting coping strategies to maintain a sense of stability and calm. But is this enough? Are there limitations to this approach, and are there alternatives that might serve us better?

I was recently reflecting on how disingenuous it felt to tell others to engage in self-care and coping skills amidst such a tense time. I was reminded that there are other frameworks for understanding our mental health and wellbeing. One in particular called feminist psychology, emphasizes community, justice, and authentic expression as powerful tools for resilience.

The Benefits of Coping Strategies

1. Sense of Relief: Coping strategies like breathing exercises, mindfulness, or stepping away from social media can offer immediate relief when emotions run high.  

2. Increased Resilience: Practicing mindfulness or grounding exercises can build long-term resilience, preparing us for future stress. These practices can help create a sense of emotional “muscle memory,” making it easier to handle challenging situations with a calm, steady mind.

3. Self-Care: Coping strategies remind us to take care of ourselves, which is essential. Regularly engaging in self-care supports physical and emotional health, allowing us to maintain energy and focus when we most need it.

While coping strategies have clear benefits, they may fall short during more intense, prolonged periods of societal stress—like the polarizing atmosphere that is surrounding this election.

The Limitations of "Keeping Calm and Carrying On"

1. Suppressing Valid Emotions: Feminist psychology reminds us that emotions like anger and anxiety are often valid responses to societal injustice and inequality. "Keeping calm" can sometimes discourage us from engaging with these emotions, leading to suppression rather than processing or channeling them constructively.

2. Isolation and Individualism: Coping strategies are typically personal practices, like meditation or journaling. These can inadvertently reinforce a sense of isolation by focusing inward rather than outward. Feminist perspectives encourage collective action and community, emphasizing the value of shared experiences and mutual support.

3. Oversimplification of Complex Issues: Merely coping can overlook the broader societal and political context that’s often at the root of our distress. Viewing stress as an individual problem rather than a shared societal issue can create a false sense of responsibility, making us feel that if we can't "keep calm," the fault lies with us alone.

4. Bypassing Action: Coping without addressing the root causes of stress can foster complacency, discouraging people from advocating for change. For example, "carrying on" can inadvertently support the status quo, making it easier to overlook injustice or inequality.

Alternatives Rooted in Feminist Psychology

1. Embrace Emotional Authenticity: Instead of just coping, feminist psychology encourages embracing all emotions, including the so-called “negative” ones. This might look like acknowledging your anger or frustration as valid responses to the world around you. Rather than suppressing these feelings, exploring them can help reveal what matters most to you, fueling purpose-driven action.

2. Engage in Collective Action: Community support is a central tenet of feminist psychology. Building a sense of solidarity with others who share your values can be incredibly empowering. Instead of trying to carry on alone, consider joining community discussions, activist groups, or even informal support circles. This type of collective action validates your feelings and connects your personal experience to broader social issues.

3. Practice Critical Reflection: Feminist psychology advocates for questioning societal norms. In this case, we can ask ourselves why we feel pressured to "keep calm" in the first place. Is it to fit into an ideal of “good behavior” or to avoid uncomfortable conversations? Reflecting on these pressures can help dismantle the expectation that calmness is always the ideal response.

4. Take Purposeful Action: Rather than passively enduring stress, feminist psychology emphasizes empowerment through action. This might mean using your voice, voting, volunteering, or even educating others about the issues you care about. Purpose-driven action can help alleviate stress by transforming difficult emotions into something constructive.

While coping strategies have their place, particularly for individual self-regulation, they shouldn’t be our only approach. By combining self-care with community support, emotional authenticity, and purpose-driven action, we honor both our individual and collective well-being. In a society that often prioritizes calmness and compliance, feminist psychology reminds us that resilience also looks like standing together, speaking out, and allowing our emotions to fuel change.

As we navigate the stress of election season and beyond, let’s expand our toolkit to include both self-soothing and community-driven strategies. If you are interested in learning how individual or group therapy can help with the expansion of your toolbox, schedule a free 15-minute consultation call.