In 2016, I sat in my best friend's apartment in Oakland with my husband, Jerry. We were sipping champagne, ready to celebrate America’s first female president. As the results rolled in, and it became clear that Donald Trump would be the next president, my excitement turned to disbelief, anger, and resentment.

Over the next four years, that anger shaped me in ways I didn’t fully realize. I became rigid and unforgiving, shutting out friends and family I believed had voted against me, my loved ones, and everything I stood for.

Now, as the possibility of another Trump presidency looms, I’ve found myself revisiting those emotions. But something is different this time.

Two key realizations have emerged for me:

I’ve accepted that I can’t change the outcome.
I’m choosing not to let anger and resentment consume me again.

If we want real progress in our society, it starts with us. It starts with how we process, connect, and move forward.

My meditation teacher often asks me, “How is this in service to your awakening?”

I don’t have the full answer yet. But I’ve been leaning into three practices that are helping me find peace and clarity—and they might help you too.

1. Staying Present

A photo of Mike Sagun staying grounded during political uncertainty.

After the 2016 election, I spent years cycling between rage and helplessness. Both emotions disconnected me from myself, making me feel unmoored and ungrounded.

Now, when I see celebrations of Trump’s potential victory or hear about policies that harm vulnerable communities, I feel a familiar fire ignite in my belly. My mind spirals into disaster scenarios, making it hard to focus.

Or I shut down completely, stuck in helplessness. I feel tired, despondent, and overwhelmed by the weight of what I cannot control.

These intense emotions are visceral, and they can pull us out of our reality. But here’s what I’ve learned: presence is power.

By reconnecting with my breath and my body, I’ve found it’s possible to come back to the present moment. No matter what happens politically, no one can take away your ability to stay grounded in the now.

These next four years will challenge us to practice presence, moment by moment. But with practice, we can anchor ourselves in the here and now—and I hope you’ll join me in trying.

2. Talking About It

Mike Sagun building connection after political divides

For the past few weeks, I’ve been talking about my feelings a lot. To my husband, my men’s group, my Somatic Experiencing (SE) supervisor, my meditation teacher, and my friends. And with every conversation, I feel lighter.

Bottling up emotions creates tension in the body. Many men I work with fear releasing that tension because they believe they’ll lose control. But here’s the truth: letting go doesn’t make your world fall apart—it creates space for softness, regulation, and healing.

Research supports this. Talking about emotions can reduce stress, strengthen your immune system, and ease physical and emotional pain.

If you’re struggling, find someone you trust and share how you feel. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just getting the words out can shift something within you.

3. Observing My Judgments

Judgment is a natural part of human cognition. It helps us assess danger and validate our beliefs. But unchecked, it can also reveal insecurities and block growth.

In 2016, I put all Trump voters into a single box: misogynists, homophobes, xenophobes, and transphobes. Was I wrong about some? No. But was it helpful to my growth or understanding? Absolutely not.

This time, I’m trying something different. I’m observing my judgments without clinging to them. I’m practicing curiosity.

Curiosity doesn’t mean agreement—it means staying open to understanding someone else’s perspective. That’s where connection and change begin.

I’ve also stopped trying to “fix” or change people. In 2016, I spent years arguing and convincing, but nothing changed. This time, I’m choosing to focus on what I can control: my own energy, awareness, and presence.

A Final Reflection

These three practices—staying present, talking about emotions, and observing judgments—are grounding me as I navigate the uncertainty ahead.

If you’re feeling the weight of this moment, I invite you to reflect:

How are you staying grounded?
How are you processing your emotions?
What steps are you taking to move forward?

And if you’re celebrating this election result, I’d love to hear how you reconcile Trump’s rhetoric with your values.

Let’s keep the conversation going.

Deep breaths,
Mike