Much of our daily overwhelm comes from our human tendency of jumping to conclusions. I know that you do it, because I do it, too! All the time! I decide or judge something before I have all the facts.
Our emotional brains react to anything quicker than our thinking brains. Daniel Goleman, one of my great mentors, says this jumping to conclusions is part of our most primitive survival response. It can sometimes go into overload and be involved in creating more overwhelm and stress for us.
Jumping to conclusions is caused by more than a simple brain reaction. We take ourselves too seriously! This is where anger and fear attitudes can generate. I’m being polite. We fall into the very human trap of believing our own thinking is the only reality, and are surprised when overwhelm and lack of connection to others results!
A great truth that someone shared with me, sometime, somewhere: “Two or more people have greater access to the truth.”We all need healthy feedback, and we need other loving people to give it to us. Loving feedback is one of the greatest gifts we humans give each other. If we don’t get this exchange with others, we start to believe our own stuff! Believing our own stuff is not pretty, and it’s not good for us or for others.
A close friend, who gives great feedback by the way, sent me a hilarious link to one of the funniest men of all time, Bob Newhart. Take the time to watch this video, and be prepared to laugh out loud. I’m giving you the link at the end of this post.
Laughing is so important for us. It works magic on our mind, our body, and our spirit. It builds a stronger immune system, and exercises the heart. It even changes the autonomic nervous system, alters stress hormones and neurotransmitter levels (the substances we need to transmit nerve impulses.) If we can laugh at ourselves and take ourselves less seriously, we will be a healthier person, in mind, body, and spirit.
Norman Cousins, in 1976, wrote a great book about the effects of laughter on the health of the body. Check out, “Anatomy of an Illness,” especially if you have chronic pain.
Make a Joy Choice for yourself. Start taking several breaks during the day to regenerate yourself. Do what you have to do to remember….put up reminders, set an alarm…but do it! Overwhelm and stress relief is not just about being quiet, meditating, praying, but also about being a natural animal, laughing and having fun, and interacting with others, even getting some loving feedback.
- Put some laughter in a break…you know how
- Talk to a supportive friend or partner…share thoughts and feelings and listen to another’s view
- Be silly by yourself, with others, with your pet
- Get out of your head and into your heart in your own way
“Believe Your Own Stuff?” (video link for next time you’re being too serious with yourself!)
Joy & Blessings, Carole xx