Relax - Breathe!

Breathing 4-6-8

Do you want to reduce stress? It can require a number of time-consuming adjustments such as improving self care and diet, exercising more, balancing work and family activities, and addressing interpersonal conflicts.

However, there is an easy exercise, almost like pushing a button, that is guaranteed to instantly reduce your stress and make you more relaxed in moments: Breathing 4-6-8.

Breathing 4-6-8 involves inhaling through the nose for four seconds, holding your breath for six seconds, exhaling through your mouth for eight seconds, and repeating that process two more times without a pause.

Some tips and warnings:

Practice Breathing 4-6-8 whenever you feel especially stressed
Practice 2-3 times a day for regular maintenance, to reduce your overall stress level
Practice Breathing 4-6-8 at most four times a day, and no more frequently than every two hours
Using this technique too often can cause you to become excessively relaxed or cause blood pressure to drop too low
Excessive practice can also diminish the relaxation effect of the technique

Try it, you’ll like it.

Practice with an instructor
Click this link to listen to an audio/mp3 file guiding you through this technique

Make it a gr8 day with 4-6-8!

Listening better

I never learned much in school about being a good listener. And yet , I have to practice it all the time as a personal development and business coach.

Here's what I do...

First, I put up my ears, then I put my tongue between my teeth and do what Andrew Weiss advises for deep listneing:

• Be present. Give the other person your complete attention Be aware of what is happening inside you.

• Be open. Put aside all your assumptions about who this person is and try to listen to who they are right now. Ask questions that convey your deep concern.

• Stay aware of your emotions. Notice what happens to you when you are hearing something you find difficult or painful. Often someone's issues will deeply touch our own. We need to recognize those feelings, breathe deeply, and release those feelings in order to continue listening with attention.

• Make space. If emotions run too high, ask for a short break. This may be painful for the other person, but tell them you will be a better listener if you take some time to let your own emotions drain out and do something to feed your compassion and love.

Listen first and talk second is good for relationhips.

And that's no nonsense...

Make lots of gr8 days.

Finish Strong

Go for it!!

There is one thing that we all have in common. That is...at some point in our life, we will face adversity. It's not a matter of if but...when.

My BS (Belief System) is that the difference in our success or failure is not change, but choice. Because when adversity strikes, it's not what happens that will determine our destiny; it's how we react to what happens.

Click on this 3 minute inspirational movie. So just sit back, turn up your speakers and enjoy.

http://www.finishstrongmovie.com/index.html

Go for the gold. Make lots of gr8 days.

"The reality of life is that your perceptions -- right or wrong -- influence everything else you do. When you get a proper perspective of your perceptions, you may be surprised how many other things fall into place."~ Roger Birkman"