15
January
2009
My space in cyberland: or I guess I should say cyberspace is back!!!
In my last blog entry I encouraged you to “mellow out” and “not stress over the small stuff”. Since I asked you to do the same thing, I managed to tame my inner lizard during the week. When I felt the sensation of worry or fear, I talked to “Lenora”, the name I gave my inner lizard, and managed to stifle the arrows of “angst”.
I’m sharing this tale of woe , as a means to encourage you. You really don’t have to worry. You can give it up for a week even two weeks and things will work themselves out. Putting yourself under stress and fight/flight survival only hurts you and really won’t solve the problem. If you feel that you and only you can solve your problems, remember that this is a limiting belief that holds you back.
Most of your friends want to help you. They don’t know that you need help unless you ask. Prayer really works and God has zillioons of lines available to connect. You are not alone. Don’t waste one more minute of your life yielding to the impulse to worry.
One cool thing about being a life coach is that I’ve learned to be my own self-coach. I offer a program for all my clients and workshop participants called “Self Coaching 101″. It’s a cool way to examine your thoughts and reframe them to stop the suffering. If you want to take advantage of this two session free opportunity to learn to be your own self coach, send me an e-mail: maryannlowry@mac.com You don’t have to live in my neighborhood. We can do this over the phone.
Blessings,
Maryann
Posted: Articles
11
January
2009
Hi All!
I planned to write a “Happy New Year’s Blog”. However, I’m actually writing a “Life Happens Entry!” Just what can you do to let go of the small stuff???? Based on life week’s happenings in my life, I can share some lessons learned. They were already planted as knowledge in my brain, but actually doing what I preach is a totally different thing!!!!!
For my faithful blog readers and “createanewseason” followers, my wordpress account was “hacked”. I’m no techie, so I can’t explain what that means exactly. However, I can tell you for sure that it’s a huge pain and not something to include as a prayer request.
If you’re reading this, you know that to reach my blog now….there is a different “URL”.
www.createanewseason.net/blog
The good news is that a very dear friend helped me get the blog up and running again and my posts are saved for now.
I like a neat and orderly life with everything tidy and minimal disruptions. Dealing with a move, tax audit, Internet security issues, and finishing an accreditation report all at one time put more on my plate than I like. I’ve learned so many self-coaching techniques, as the result of helping my clients. I wanted to scream or cry hysterically or slam doors, but I had a real opportunity to put my coaching wisdom and advice to good use.
When everything seems to go wrong at once, I go into lizard reptilian thinking immediately. My body gets the message that I’m under attack and the stress meter goes through the stratosphere. When I recognize that my body is sending me a “Code Blue” and danger emminent warning, I’ve learned to ask myself to describe the dangerous situation that I’m in. I ask my clients to ask this question when things seem to be coming apart. The fear and anxiety surrounded around the disruptions to the web site and my blog had nothing to do with any danger. My kids are happy and well. I live in a beautiful place and I’ve found the career of my dreams. Nope, no danger here.
Martha Beck refers to this “fight/flight” “lack/attack”, as letting your inner lizard/Reptilian thinking get the upper hand. I tried following my own advice. My inner lizard seemed to quietly mellow out when I stopped to evaluate whether the situation is a matter of life and death. The situation was just a bunch of stuff to deal with at one time. I talked to “Lenora”, which is the pet name for my inner lizard and told her she could relax and that all was well. It’s amazing how calming this little technique works for me; especially if I throw in some deep cleansing breaths.
As I continue to do some “life coaching for the world” through blog posts, my hope is that all of you will find your own strategy for mellowing out when you feel tension coming on. If you’re in danger, by all means let your fight/flight instinct go into overdrive. Remember this instinct is based on the way we were created to go into survival mode when we’re in true danger.
Coping with a long line at the grocery store and company arriving for dinner in an hour is not the time for you to send a “Code Blue” alert to your “Central Nervous System”. Take a few deep breaths and ask yourself, “Is there real danger in this situation?” All living mammals have this reptilian thinking survival mechanism. Remind yourself that God created that part of your brain for survival and it was never intended to deal with a dead battery, lost car keys, Internet Hackers, etc.
You probably have some worries and fears as 2009 begins. If stress and “Lizard thinkin’” would solve your problems, I’d urge you to go for it. The only thing that this type of fight/flight thinking accomplishes when activated daily is mega tension, which is just not kind to your body. You deserve the best, so start the year without letting your “Inner Lizard” becoming a pest.
Blessings,
Maryann
P.S. My Web site will be up and good to go soon. I’m still around….just a bit challenged.
Posted: Life Coaching through My Blog
