All things are ready, if our mind be so. ~ William Shakespeare
When we are scared, it is because we first had a thought. Perhaps, “I can’t do this” or “I’m not strong enough” or “What if I screw up?” We doubt ourselves and our capabilities just long enough to incite panic and fear. Thoughts are fast. We can be faster.
If we see a storm approaching, like an email we’ve been dreading, a meeting with the unhappy client, a conference with our child’s teacher, or a tough conversation with a loved one, we can get our minds to be helpful by catching our breath. Taking a minute to get control of our breath can shift our thoughts, increase our testosterone, and prepare us to face the turbulence with our eyes forward and our feet on the ground.
The better we get at responding first to our minds and then to our emotions, the more smoothly we will navigate those fast approaching storms. Eventually, we become stronger and faster and better equipped to flip our negative thoughts into positive ones. Ultimately, we grow confident in our skills and open to learning more.
Make it a strong day!