The hard numbers just came in and they are not soft--it seems the unemployment rate is over ten per cent for the first in twenty-six years. This "soft" recovery is not too cushy for many Americans, but it does seem the tide is slowly turning...
However, things could be a great deal worse. The human instinct is to view bad news as "real" news but that is not an accurate world view.
One of our most common thinking errors is discounting the positive. Yes, unemployment is 10.2 per cent. However, employment is 89.8. When viewing the world in a realistic fashion, don't look at a half full glass or a half empty one either--use your mind to see both parts.
And keep plugging along dear friends...that is what we, as humans, do best.
We are all a product of our ancestors and since that is true, we inherited a variety of wonderful, and some less than wonderful traits that do not play so well in the 21st century. On of those is our response to stress. In ancient times, and in some cases today, our instinctual desire to fight or run away comes in handy (ever cross paths with a grizzly bear?). But most times these responses won’t work at the office or in an airplane on the tarmac. So understanding how you can naturally change the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream is an important tool in managing your anxiety.
We breathe, on average, twelve to fourteen times per minute; a slight change in respiration, say two additional breaths per minute, can drastically change the oxygen content of your blood. And that increased oxygen send signals to your body that something is wrong. As a result a variety of symptoms may occur—faster heart beat, a feeling of being cool or hot, tingling feelings, Goosebumps or a feeling of dread.
To counteract these symptoms, we have to take control of something we normally do not—the rhythm of our breath. One method is placing a paper sack over one’s mouth. In doing so, we breathe in our own carbon dioxide and lessen the oxygen we take in.
However, the bag may not be handy or may be a tad obvious during a job interview or having dinner at the in-laws. And that is where square breathing comes in handy.
It is called square breathing because it is four sided and each side is the length of the other three.
1.Breathe in to a count of four;
2.Hold that breath for a four count;
3.Exhale for the same count;
4.Then hold off from breathing for one more count of four.
Do this over and over. It may be difficult at first but in a few moments you will begin to feel the benefit. The oxygen will level off and the symptoms, as well as the feelings will subside as a result. Over time, as you get more proficient, extend the count to six or seven, just as long as it feels comfortable for you.
Who would have thought being square would be so cool?
I was having lunch with a brilliant friend of mine yesterday and we were talking about how some people don’t trust their instincts.
Humans lived in small clans for hundreds of thousands of years. Over that time those who survived did so, to some extent, because of instinct. Instinct guided us through hard times and difficult situations. Anyone who is alive today has inherited a set of instincts that has the capacity to serve us well in certain circumstances. Instinct is not always right however. A great deal of my work with clients and groups focuses on learning how to differentiate between instinct and accurate thinking. Our instincts have been honed over hundreds of thousands of years and the world has the potential to change in a day, or even a moment. Unlike squirrels or cows or cats, our greater intellectual capacity allows us to look beyond instinct and recognize cases where our desire has to be countered with clear thinking.
What are cases where instinct serves us well? Any ideas?
If you’d like some help deciding which instincts to trust, drop me a line. so we can set up a complimentary session. I love working with individuals who are ready to create change. in their lives. Often this can be done in just a few short sessions.--just email me at david@betterthanever.info
My spell check does not like the word “mody.” I suppose the main reason is that outside of my mind, the word has technically not existed.
Mody (mod-ee) noun, plural mod⋅ies,verb, mod⋅ied,Mod⋅y⋅ing,adjective. The physical structure, material substance, as well as the emotional and mental states of an animal, primarily human, but applying to other sentient beings as well.
When I first started working with clients who wanted to achieve their goals, I was asked if I “believed” in the mind-body link. At that time I was not sure. Now, five years later I have come to realize the concept of a mody is not something to believe in but it is a fact. The mind and body constantly reflect and reinforce each other; one is intimately, and immediately reinforced by the other. In an effort to teach people that this is a fact, I coined the term mody.
How does it work? Think about a time when you were not feeling well. Perhaps your stomach was upset or your allergies were annoying you. Your body felt bad and you felt “yucky” as well. You probably don’t want to be as social, or as productive when your body is not medically optimal. Chances are that if the illness was profound or extended, your mood shifted to a lower state—right?
Or recall a time when you were very sad from an event you had recently experienced. In turn your thoughts made you feel lethargic, not unlike a time when your body was medically at risk. Perhaps as a result your sleeping or eating changed (too much or not enough of either or both). That made you more susceptible to making yourself physically sick as well.
Body feeds mind and mind feeds body.
Let's examine this effect in a variety of way. What are the side effects of a body that is not in tip top shape? Also, what are the implications of a mind that is not functioning at its best?
One of our most common thinking errors is discounting the positive. Yes, unemployment is 10.2 per cent. However, employment is 89.8. When viewing the world in a realistic fashion, don't look at a half full glass or a half empty one either--use your mind to see both parts.
