This week I had an opportunity to walk my talk. And guess what? It works!
So, here’s what happened
Last Friday, I was attending a wonderful Zoom Conference on Death and Dying. It concluded at 11:00 a.m. but we had such heartfelt connection, it was obvious we’d go past the hour. However, I had another important Zoom marketing consult at 11:00 a.m. so said goodbye at 10:59 a.m.
When I entered the next Zoom room another session was still in progress. The leader abruptly said, “You’re early. You’re scheduled for 11:15. Come back then.”
Boy, was I TRIGGERED! Embarrassed. Shamed. I double checked. Yep, his email said 11:00 a.m. What kind of organization was this? The stories in my head started spinning.
My emotional state exploded from Shame to RAGE in a nano-second.
I felt stunned. I hadn’t intended to impose. To crash the party. To be impolite.
When I realized what was happening emotionally, I practiced the Somatic Emotional Release (SER).
- First, I recognized the emotion in my body.
- Then, I paused and related to it. (I acknowledged my upbringing about “imposing”.)
- Next, I felt where the emotion was in my body.
- I consciously became aware of my thoughts. (It’s like looking at my thoughts from outside myself.)
- Finally, I yawned and stretched 10 times.
The emotions released. Dissipated. And I laughed.
I returned to the Zoom call at 11:15 only to have the man say, “Oh, I see you really were scheduled at 11:00.” Ummhmm.
Emotions are information
Your emotions are information, indicators of what you’re thinking. The stories you’re telling yourself – whether helpful or not.
The sensations, aches, pains, and tightness in your body are also information when you take time to truly listen.
Drs. Mark Waldman and Andrew Newberg recommend these simple practices to renew your brain, especially when you feel tired, irritable, anxious, or stressed out.
- Learn how to enter brief, deliberate moments of mindfulness throughout the day.
- Spend 60 seconds to become aware of rather than thinking about the thoughts, feelings, and sensations that are consciously floating in and out of consciousness.
- Yawn frequently. It’s the brain’s thermo-regulatory mechanism that lowers mental stress in a matter of seconds.
Hear the words of Rev Jane Beach:
“Balancing my emotions is a dance, and I am the dancer.”
Love all around, above, below, to the left and to the right, before you and behind you,
Georgena
P.S. – How’s Your Grief? Yes, I really want to know.
Your Personal Loss Grief? Your Community Grief? Your National Grief? Your Global Grief?
Pick one. Just one and tune in to it. Become aware of the Loss you are feeling. The Grief.
Then practice some Somatic Emotional Release (SER).
Let me know what you experience.
