Not tensing the body when busy

Barbara,

As I was "rushing" off to meet to help a person in a terrifying financial jam, I noticed my body tensing and my breathing pace increasing. (I also noticed the next day that I was rushing and sitting forward when writing the all important plan for this person - so I repositioned myself and relaxed, appreciating what I was doing and that it was my choice and I didn't need to do it perfectly.)

It occurred to me then that this was "bad training" for my mind and body. Indeed, it occurred to me, and I made the promise to myself, that I would not allow my body to do any "emergency" preparation unless it was an actual danger* to my physical body. I remembered that the emergency system evolved as those who had it survived, but that it is only for real emergencies. I was letting myself do such a broad interpretation of danger when it was clearly not a threatening situation.

The discipline is simple:

1. Talk to myself: Tell myself this is no emergency at all. Add nurturing words.
2. Do physical adjustments: Breathe deeply and slowly and check all muscles for tension and
let them go.

I resolved to check early for such tension and to have it be absolutely unacceptable to let myself damage myself by activating this system needlessly!

It is my hope that you do the same, as we need to absolutely train ourselves to dissolve those things which create artificial anxiety, either in our thoughts and/or in our body [of course, they're related!].

This is another very simple but incredibly beneficial practice to do now and for the rest of your life.

Happy practicing!



*See www.thelifemanagementalliance.com, THREATS AND FEAR (Use search engine or press CTRL and click mouse.)