Trump’s Shocking Victory: How to Accept it Quickly

Bombastic self-promoting businessman Donald Trump’s stunning upset victory in the United States presidential election was, for hundreds of millions around the world, somewhat unsettling. While opponent Hillary Clinton earned a slim preference in the cumulative popular vote, Trump’s electoral college advantage (290-232) was decisive. Combined with Trump’s Republican party regaining control of both the House of Representatives and U. S. Senate, the next four years will involve dramatic change in far-flung areas of social, judicial, and economic ways. Trump and the Republicans have a bully pulpit from which to rule so comprehensive change to “America as usual” will be forthcoming.

This shocking overnight shift of power and national direction created the most emotional day in America since the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. While talking heads and pundits will yammer about how this came about, there is no future for the rest of us to worry about it. The key now is understanding how our minds work so we can embrace change — and this election result certainly provides a textbook example.

The mind goes through a four-step process when dealing with change. The bigger the change, the more important these steps are for us to be aware of and embrace. They are:

1. The Evolutionary Need. Changes over time collect all the things that paint the back story leading to behavioral decision-making, which triggers change. In the case of the mudslinging primary and presidential campaigns, the evolutionary need and all it entailed came at us in a thousand ways and unexpected directions. Since elections have concrete deadlines, issue percolation leads to physical voting, which leads to a fact-based decision. Millions across America stayed up past midnight anxiously awaiting the result.
2. The Panic Stage. Once change becomes reality, in this case the measurable determination that Donald Trump had prevailed, the mind shifts to a very emotional place: the Panic Stage. Here we frame what just occurred in its worst possible context, as seen through our personal life’s lens. Upon learning of Trump’s victory, legions of protesters took to the streets in major cities across America. All feared impending loss of rights, freedom, or something important they anticipate a Trump presidency will remove. The Panic Stage is normal. We all go through it. Some of us fight it and others stubbornly wallow in it, but many simply shrug their shoulders and move on. I teach worry management and since the result is something we can’t control it, there is zero sense worrying about it. The smart move is to move forward quickly to stage three, Acceptance.
3. The Acceptance Stage. While the Panic Stage is an emotional place, the Acceptance Stage is not. The Acceptance Stage is a logical place, where our brain leaves panic’s emotional upheaval behind. We move to a more calmer, and analytical acceptance. We realize what happened is unchangeable and, like it or not, we accept it. What’s interesting about this stage is that each of us arrives here eventually, but do so at different speeds. We all go around the same emotional wheel, but we do so at our own individual pace. Corralling the American populace in this regard will be be a major challenge during Trump’s transition. He needs to galvanize a divided nation with bridges of trust. A divided nation boils in stage two panic and anger — and is reluctant to accept — but a united nation comes together here, in State Three Acceptance. Keep an eye on Trump’s message management as his transition unfolds. Watch what he says and does. He will be advised to glue back together the pieces of a broken constituency as fast as he can.
4. Flourishing Under the New Reality. The desired outcome of processing and dealing with any big emotional change is getting to a place where we can once again flourish and “bloom where we are planted.” This is the fourth and final step of the cognitive four-step journey but, like all three before, an important one. Once here, of course, changes over time will continue. Since days drag but years fly, four more years will soon pass by and the American voters will weigh perceived progress against regression and vote again. Most likely both parties will be reinvented along the way, with new faces and themes redefining their evolution.

Remembering this 4-step wheel of change helps not just during an election cycle but, more importantly, any time we face a major change. Know yourself, protect your head at all times, and work hard to be your very best self.

Best regards,