Wake-Up Call: Pain, Change, and That Election We Didn’t See Coming

Alright, folks. Buckle up, because if you’re feeling mad, sad, or somewhere in between about this recent election, it’s time to get real with ourselves.

This isn’t just about Donald Trump winning in a landslide or the Senate turning red. This is a hard slap from the political landscape saying: “Get up, look around, because something isn’t working.” Close to 74 million people voted for Trump, and it wasn’t all because they were looking for sunshine and daisies. It was more like, "anything but this."

Think about it. As a country, we’ve always been pretty stubborn. But the truth is, people won’t make big changes unless they’re feeling an even bigger pain. When that tipping point hits, when the discomfort of staying put finally outweighs the risk of making a move, change happens.

Why Change is So Dang Uncomfortable (and Why We Avoid It Like the Plague)

Let’s take it back to the American Revolution. You think people really wanted to risk everything by defying the British Empire? Hardly. But they finally got to a point where the tyranny, the taxes, and the lack of representation hurt worse than the idea of breaking away and forming something new. Pain made change seem like the better option. Sound familiar?

Or look at the Civil Rights Movement. It took decades of suffering, injustice, and outright pain to make people say, “Enough.” Pain isn’t just discomfort; it’s a catalyst. When people reach a point where they can’t take it anymore, they don’t politely ask for change. They demand it, they create it. And they don’t care how much it disrupts the system.

Why We’re Here Now (and Why This Matters)

Right now, we’re watching history do its thing. Trump winning this election wasn’t just about red and blue. It’s about a huge chunk of the population saying they’ve hit their limit. They’d rather vote for a candidate, who may be more controversial than any other in recent memory, than put up with more of the same.

Here’s the thing: you should be angry, maybe even sad. Anger has a funny way of clearing the fog and getting people to pay attention. Just like back when FDR took over during the Great Depression. The country was a mess. People were starving, banks were failing, and FDR knew people couldn’t take any more. So, he brought in the New Deal, a massive, unprecedented change in the system. It was painful. It shook the whole country. And it worked.

This election is our wake-up call. For decades, we’ve been on autopilot, hoping things would fix themselves. Well, newsflash, they haven’t. The discomfort you’re feeling? That’s your gut telling you it’s time to wake up and reassess everything.

Let’s Get a Bit Blunt Here: Why We’d Rather Watch Netflix Than Face Hard Truths

The truth is, we don’t like change. Not as individuals, not as a nation. We’ll scroll endlessly, binge-watch, and fill our lives with distractions to avoid the real issues at hand. But ignoring reality won’t change it. At some point, we’ve got to take a hard look at what’s happening and ask, “What am I doing about this?”

Imagine if Winston Churchill had shrugged and gone back to his cigars when things got tough in World War II. No, he said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” He didn’t mince words or sugarcoat things. He laid out the harsh truths, and in doing so, he rallied a nation.

We’re in that Churchill moment. It’s time to face some tough facts about the country, about each other, and, yeah, about ourselves.

Best Practices for Moving Forward: Embracing Discomfort and Actually Doing Something

So, what can we do with this frustration? Here are a few tried-and-true approaches from some big names in history:

1. Channel the Pain into Progress: Like Teddy Roosevelt, who tackled corporate monopolies and established the national parks to preserve something worthwhile for future generations. Take action, whether it’s locally or nationally, but don’t just sit around fuming. Look for ways to make an impact.
2. Listen to the Opposing Side, Yes, Really: Abraham Lincoln was famous for bringing his fiercest critics into his Cabinet. Why? Because he wanted to understand the opposition and challenge his own ideas. Don’t write off people who think differently. Hear them out.
3. Focus on What You Can Change: FDR couldn’t fix the world, but he could create programs to get people back on their feet. Start with what you can control. Volunteer, get involved in your community, write your representatives. Do something that isn’t just scrolling or sighing.
4. Be Okay with Being Uncomfortable: As painful as it is, discomfort leads to growth. Every major shift in history has been born out of people who were willing to push through pain and uncertainty. Embrace it.

Final Thought: Pain as a Precursor to Growth

Here’s the bottom line: pain changes things. The discomfort we’re feeling now? That’s a sign. It’s time to lean into it and demand something better, something more inclusive, something sustainable. Because if history has taught us anything, it’s that real change comes when enough people decide they’re tired of playing small.

You’re feeling mad and sad for a reason. Don’t ignore it; don’t bury it. Let it be the motivation to do something. This is our wake-up call.

About Me: Your Partner in Change

If you’re a leader, small business owner, executive, entrepreneur, or another coach, I’m here to help you reach levels you might not have thought possible. I work with the best leaders to scale, grow, and achieve results they couldn’t reach on their own. This moment we’re living in is a wake-up call, but it’s also an opportunity. Let’s harness that momentum and channel it into real, actionable progress. Book a discovery call with me, and let’s work together to take everything you’re building to the next level.

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