Fred Harteis News Articles - Pushed to the Edge at Work?

Fred Harteis News Articles - Think it takes a crisis to throw you off your game? Research shows that life's everyday hassles, frustrations and disappointments exact an even higher toll on your energy and concentration levels.

According to Robert K. Cooper, author of 'High Energy Living,' how you handle the little things can mean the difference between feeling energized or exhausted. "Chemical and hormonal changes in your brain and body can tighten muscles and unleash negative emotions so quickly that your thinking becomes clouded, your mood turns negative, and tension or tiredness sets in," Cooper says.

Because the effects of these changes are harder to reverse once they've occurred, neuroscientists say it is far better to nip tensions in the bud.

Cooper's strategy for defusing stress and creating positive energy is called the Instant Calming Sequence (ICS). Based on years of research, it involves five steps:

Step One -- Keep Breathing: When stress levels rise, most people unknowingly stop breathing for several seconds or more. This propels feelings of anxiety, anger and frustration, causing you to lose perspective and overreact.

Step Two -- Lighten Your Eyes: A relaxed and positive (or at least neutral) facial expression increases blood flow to your brain and transmits nerve impulses to your limbic system, a key emotional center of your brain that guides your core perceptions of life and your immediate reactions to it.

Step Three -- Release Tension: Many people react to sudden rises in everyday pressure with a posture known as somatic retraction -- chest collapsed, shoulders rolled forward and down; abdomen, back and neck tensed. This restricts your breathing (making step one impossible). And it reduces blood flow by as much as 30 percent, depriving your brain of oxygen, which results in muscle tension, slowed reaction time and feelings of panic and helplessness.

Step Four -- Notice Uniqueness: The brain has a lightning-fast tendency to categorize situations and put problems into neat boxes. But packaged solutions are rarely the best answer. Take a moment to identify the unique features of each challenge.

Step Five -- Call Upon Your Best Self: What you do with your mind and heart in the initial moment of a challenge often determines the outcome. Far too many of us get caught up in bemoaning every challenge we face "Not another problem!" "Why does this always happen to me?" "Well that blows my day!"

By wishing the situation weren't happening or complaining about life's unfairness, you set off a biochemical avalanche that makes you overload with anxiety and lose control.

You must first acknowledge reality. Tell yourself: "What's happening is real, and I'm finding the best possible solution right now."

Then, calmly ask yourself, "What is the real problem I'm trying to solve? What can I learn from this situation? How does this fit into the greater picture of my priorities or vision? If I get angry or impatient, what will the consequences be in the long term?"

One mishandled incident can ruin your entire day -- or week. Practicing these steps may be the best investment you can make in boosting your energy, health and personal success.

Source: Careerbuilders.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.