Mental Toughness for the “New Normal”
Do you ever catch yourself thinking that maybe all of this – this pace of relentless change and uncertainty – is really just temporary? That we simply have to ride it out and, eventually, we’ll go back to the way it used to be. You know, pre-9/11, before the financial meltdown, without the weekly slew of disasters, natural and man-made. Well, enjoy the fantasy because this is the new normal. “The pace of change in our world is speeding up,” ...
The Power of Boring: Why Discipline and Consistency Trump the Adrenaline Rush
A TALE OF TWO ADVENTURERS In October 1911, two teams of adventurers were heading separate expeditions toward the South Pole – one led by Roald Amundsen from Norway and the other by Robert Falcon Scott of England. Amundsen adhered to a regimen of consistent progress, traveling 15 – 20 miles per day, resisting the temptation to go farther in good weather, in order to avoid reaching a point of exhaustion that could leave his team exposed, and pressing ahead even ...
Five Strategies for Staying Mindful on “Social”
Ever noticed how dogs behave when they’re taken for a walk — easily distracted, stopping to sniff and/or chase everything along the way, the smellier the better? That’s our minds on social media. As I mentioned in my previous post, Are You Missing Out?, there’s no question that social media has created exciting opportunities for us to connect, stay informed and build community. At the same time, it’s being integrated into our lives so insidiously seamlessly that most of us haven’t ...
‘Tis The Season to be Emotional, Part II: What To Do When Things Get Tense
A few days ago, I gave you the first part of a step-by-step training plan that lays out exactly what and how to practice managing your emotions. Now that you know how to prepare, what do you do in the heat of the moment when your emotions flare up? IN THE MOMENT 1.Recognize the signs of the “fight-or-flight” response. Heart pounding, stomach turning, palms sweating: these are signs that the part of your brain that is on the lookout for ...
‘Tis the Season to Be Emotional, Part I: How To Stay In Control (And Avoid Regret) – Part 1
RIDING THE ROLLERCOASTER Ah, the holiday season. That time of year when we experience those delightful emotional extremes — from the joy and exhilaration of spending time with people we care about to the discomfort of performance reviews and dinner with difficult in-laws. Even if, on balance, you enjoy the holidays, when your emotions start running the show, the rollercoaster ride between the highs and lows can feel incredibly stressful and uncomfortable. WE HAVE A CHOICE When the doctor hits ...
Are You Missing Out? How To Handle The Double-Edged Sword of Social Media
A pic of someone posing on a sunny beach, fervent opinions on the presidential election, updates on wedding prep, kiddies looking adorable — just a typical glance at my Facebook feed. ON THE ONE HAND There’s so much that’s good about social media: It updates us on the lives of people that we care about but might otherwise not keep in close touch with, creates community and provides an easy forum for self-expression. In the aftermath of hurricanes and other ...
How To Stay Calm and Cool In A Crazy Uncertain World (Gus Fring Style)
In the hit TV show Breaking Bad, Gus Fring is a drug lord and one of the most prominent meth distributors in the southwestern United States. At one point, Gus is brought in for questioning by the Drug Enforcement Agency. He doesn’t know why until they start asking him about his connection with the murder of Gale (who they don’t know was his former employee). Watching the scene and knowing Gus is sitting there right under the nose of his enemy ...
What Are Your Rules?
A few weeks ago, at the Dark Knight shooting in Aurora, Colorado, there were a number of media stories about Jamie Rohrs who went to see the movie with his girlfriend and their two children. When the shooting started, he tried to retrieve his son but eventually jumped over the balcony and fled. “It just felt like the worst thing ever because my son’s still in there,” he told ABC News. “My girlfriend is still in there. I’m out here. ...
Who’s In Charge, You or Your Emotions?
Thanks to the Olympics, it’s been an inspiring week of seeing the most gifted and dedicated athletes in the world showing us the heights of human ability and self-control. Speaking of self-mastery, Kyla Ross, one of the ‘Fab Five’ on the US women’s gymnastics team and, at 15, the youngest competitor of the entire 530-person American field, seems to have maturity beyond her years — often acting with more poise than her older teammates. When the women were named to ...
Yes or Yes: How to Make Fewer Decisions
A married couple was celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. At the party everybody wanted to know how they managed to stay married so long in this day and age. The husband responded, “When we were first married we came to an agreement – I would make all the major decisions and my wife would make all the minor decisions. And now, after 60 years of marriage, I can truthfully say that we have never needed to make a MAJOR decision. ...
