Politics is the number one stressor for Americans, and with the political gender gap widening among young people, it can be hard to stay motivated when we’re more divisive than ever.
Few people understand that better than Ella Emhoff, daughter of former Second Gentleman of the United States Doug Emhoff and stepdaughter of former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Going offline is a good first step.
“I think the thing that’s most uplifting to me when it comes to politics and social change is seeing everyone else be empowered by politics and social change and being able to come to ZCON and stuff like that and talk about it,” Emhoff recently told CNBC Make It at a conference hosted by United Talent Agency focused on Gen Z. “Being online can feel very insular and like everything is happening to us: immigration, war, genocide, climate.”
With so much going on, Emhoff says focusing on the small changes within your control and the actions you can take in response can be powerful.
“Small changes influence big changes,” she says. “Whether it’s going to a shelter and volunteering, taking a dog or feeding the homeless, things like that will create a positive impact. The more you work on this in your daily life, the more big things will feel achievable.”
As Dr. Jordan Grumet, hospice medical director and purpose author, previously told Make It:
On the other hand, scrolling through and reading all the bad headlines doesn’t do much for your emotions and the feeling that you can make small changes. “Get off your phone and get involved in your community,” Emhoff says. “You’ll feel better, I promise.”
Dealing with setbacks
The 26-year-old says it also helps to turn to creative endeavors offline, such as her work as a textile artist and her recently reopened Soft Hands Knit Club.
Working in a creative field has its own challenges. But Emhoff says her mother, Kerstin, who works as a film producer and heads a creative entertainment studio, has always given her the best outlook on her career.
“One of the best things she told me was to just never give up,” she says. “When you’re on a non-traditional career path like I am, it’s easy to feel like quitting when you lose your source of income or feel less engaged, and you want to quit and get a regular job. I love to threaten her with this, but she’s always been incredibly supportive of my message in the areas of mental health and crafting and community, and that’s pushed me much further than I ever have before.” ”
Emhoff said she got good advice from her stepmother, Harris, especially about bouncing back from setbacks after losing the 2024 presidential election.
“After she gave her concession speech, she sat down with us and said, ‘This is not the end. This is just a milestone,’ and I really believe that,” Emhoff says. “There have been difficult times before. We are in a particularly difficult time. But we have come out of difficult times, and the only way to get through it is to believe and not give up.”
“I think we need to come together and get into the same headspace of just kicking ass,” she added.
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