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radioJoy Attmore considers the election of Donald Trump in a light-hearted and unpolitical way.
As some of you may be aware, the United States of America has a new President. He was voted in last week and the news has left not just the 50 states, but the whole world, reeling.
Famous for his billions of dollars and coining the phrase, 'you're fired!' on his reality TV show, The Apprentice, Donald J. Trump will now become the 45th President of the United States when he is inaugurated in January 2017.
His journey thus far to the White House has been far from quiet and has evoked strong feelings, both positive and negative, in anyone who hears his name spoken.
Now, as a Brit living in America, I feel the impact of both UK and US politics. After this past year and all of the Brexit and presidential drama, I'm ready to go live in a beach hut on an island in the middle of nowhere. So if, like me, you're a little exhausted and in need of some tips on how to keep your joy, please read on!
1. Dedicate Time to Laughing
I remember watching a news feature about a laughing therapy technique when I was younger. You could book onto a cruise where the whole purpose of the trip was to learn how to deal with anxiety and depression through laughter. They showed video footage of a class where everyone participating laid out on the deck of the boat and just laughed. I tried to too and it really works.
2. Remember to Say the Important Things
Politics can get really negative, really fast, so watch this video and remind yourself of what you should be saying. Thanks Kid President ;)
3. Choose Joy
Joy is not subject to emotions, emotions should be subject to joy! How we feel can go up and down like a yo-yo, depending on what Facebook status or YouTube video we've just watched. The challenge is in maintaining a constant state of joy. The things we choose to found our life upon or put our hope in become the source of joy that we live in. For example, if the sports team you support are the most important thing in life to you, your heart's foundation is going to change dramatically from season to season, or game to game, depending on how well they are performing. Seek to root your life in what is eternal rather than what is temporary.
4. Walk In Love
It's super easy to start hating when we don't understand, disagree, or are offended. Choosing otherwise isn't necessarily easy, but it is essential to maintaining unity and keeping the family together. At the end of the day, when the votes have been cast, the leaders elected and the laws passed, you'll still be gathering with the same family and friends around the dinner table.
5. Adopt Someone
When the world seems like it's acting crazy and the powers at be don't appear to be as trustworthy as we would like, it can be easy to take on a 'woe is me, the world is ending' mindset. We start to feel overwhelmed and the beach hut on the island vision sounds really appealing. Rather than focusing on those things that are outside of our control, look a little closer to home and find someone that you can 'adopt', love on and help their life be a little bit better. Choose to do life in the opposite spirit and with the opposite actions to those things you despise, it really does make a difference!
6. Do Something Fun!
Host a games night, eat some delicious food and put the kettle on. We all know that where there is tea, there is hope. Do what you can to foster community rather than create division and there's nothing like a game of Monopoly to do just that ;)
May these little suggestions help us to keep above the shadows and
fears, the negativity and protects, the dark predictions and blaring
headlines. May they help us to focus on the truth that this is not the
end, there is still hope and within you and within me is the power to
change the world yet. 
Joy is originally from England and now lives between Los Angeles and New York with her husband, Phillip. She is the founder of the Beauty For Ashes Movement, which has begun in NY, and works with those that have been sexually exploited through the sex trade. Joy and Phillip are also heavily involved in the Broadway community and entertainment industry due to Phillip’s work. You can buy Joy's book 
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As an American, this election was a horrifying media-ridden circus. It's been shown recently that the media took what President-Elect Trump said and cut and edited it to begin and promote fear mongering. His actual speeches are actually somewhat inspiring. My fiancé is in the UK and had no idea about the actual drama surrounding the Clinton bid for the white house. So it's apparent that the media has controlled how she is seen by the rest of the world. As of now, because of what the media has said, the democratic political party is "terrified" and comparing Trump to a modern day hitler. They are using this time to protest and insight riots. In a time where our country is already having internal unrest (the BLM movement vs All Lives Matter, police officer safety, and a general feeling of "even though I've done nothing to deserve it, I should be given everything" amongst the millenials), all Americans should read your suggestions and focus on living happier and fostering community rather than deepening the divide from within. The next four years will definitely prove interesting either way. I'm not sure what they hold. (I'm kind of thankful now I'm relocating in 2018!) But one thing I'm sure of “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand." Matthew 12:25. I'm staying joyful but praying hard for my nation.
Your right Amy - we live in a very media controlled world - unless people take the time to dig deep (possible if they use internet and avoid fake sights etc), then they just let what they see first and foremost forge their opinions. So yes, Joy suggestions are very much needed on an individual basis - but even more so we need as ambassadors of Christ to be above all the uncertainty and be their for those who do fear for their future and are without hope.
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