Some people are rather expressive at times.
They spend a lot of time worrying about things.
They think about the future and imagine that something horrible is going to happen.
And you know what, they are right about 10% of the time.
But, the other 90% of the time, they are worrying about things that never come to pass.
So, what is the impact of that kind of approach?
Look for Ways to Reduce your Stress
We all know that stress is a killer. Stress increases heart disease and hypertension. It leads to addictions which cause other health problems.
So, stress pretty much ensures you will endure some health problems.
And having serious underlying health conditions can put you at greater risk of illness.
What I want to share with you is that there is a better approach.
And let me explain why this is important to you.
As a small business owner or solopreneur, you face greater risks than someone with a job.
You have no guarantees.
You could actually have a month where your expenses exceed your revenue and you earn nothing.
In fact, worse than that, you might actually have to dig in to savings or take on debt to cover your business expenses.
This constant pressure can take a toll on you.
Practice Patience and Find Stability
There’s an approach I have used for many years.
The technique is: Maintain an Even Keel
The phrase, “on an even keel” has origins in the 1500’s and refers to a ship in a level, horizontal position. It is a reference to stability.
In your business and your life, you need to have stability.
To me, it also refers to your mindset and attitude.
Remember Chicken Little who ran around saying, “the sky is falling.”
That kind of mindset to believe that the worst is about to happen is not helpful.
When you embrace the worst, you give up your ability to change the outcome of negative circumstances.
There are two sides to a coin.
A mentor once told me, “don’t let your highs get too high or your lows get too low.”
What he meant was don’t celebrate too much when things go your way, and don’t throw a pity party when things go against you.
There is a value in maintaining an even keel.
Be thankful but indifferent to good news.
Be cautious but not too concerned when there is bad news.
The Importance of Responsibility
It’s important to take personal responsibility, to evaluate your situation and take action.
For some people, this is challenging.
People have emotional triggers. They respond to things other people say. They respond to things they hear on TV. They respond to certain situations in their life.
People who are angry all of the time and blame others for their circumstances are often constantly triggered.
And their response is often to yell, complain, blame, criticize and rage.
People respond to emotional triggers in person and online. These days, people take to social media to express their anger and rage against others.
And who gets hurt?
Well, unfortunately, they are the ones who are most often hurt by their behavior.
People shun them. They lose business opportunities. Opportunities that come their way are missed because they are too busy raging.
And they ultimately suffer in terms of their health, for all of the reasons mentioned above.
Don’t React to Circumstances
So, how do you unravel this mess?
Well, I’m not a therapist. So, my first suggestion is to see a therapist if you are facing serious emotional issues. There is probably something going on deep down in your psyche that needs to be addressed. And it could take months or years to get through all of it.
But, let me share a simple technique with you.
Maintain an even keel.
Choose not to respond to emotional triggers. Relax. Breathe. Practice not responding.
Identify your emotional triggers and then prepare an alternative behavior to practice.
You are in control of your own behavior, not anyone else.
Surely, people must realize that when other people watch them expressing anger and rage, they feel pity for them.
They feel pity because they see the reality of the situation. An angry person has lost control of themselves. They have let circumstances define them and control them.
Anger is a strong emotion. And a person who gives in to anger does so because it feels good to them. It releases endorphins in their brain.
An angry person reaches a point where they can only be happy if they are angry. But, they aren’t really happy at all. Their world is upside down.
It’s a sad state to be in. In fact, it’s quite pitiful.
So, maintain an even keel.
Learn how to reach a point where you don’t react to circumstances. Don’t allow your emotions to consume you.
Yes, it’s difficult to do that.
Yes, you have to make a decision.
Seeking Joy and Happiness
When you begin to practice this approach, your life suddenly becomes more peaceful.
Your life becomes more joyful.
Find joy in everyday experiences.
The book, The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch, expresses the importance of finding those joyful moments in your life. Randy, a professor at Carnegie-Mellon University delivered a lecture to his students just after receiving a prognosis that his pancreatic cancer was terminal. He died less than a year later. The book, based on his lecture, is about putting a focus on the important things in your life.
What are the important things in your life?
Isn’t it time that you devoted attention to those important things in your life?
Maintain an even keel.
Whether you are occasionally annoyed, frequently upset or a constant rage-aholic, you will benefit from this technique.
I hope you strive for greater joy and peace of mind in your life.
Your life will be much better because of it.
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