Just like a sneeze, we can catch the bad thoughts of others that can potentially misinform our decisions. I wonder if you have ever stopped to wonder why something so simple and unimportant made you so angry and anxious enough you wanted to break out in tears? Or if you stopped to think this behaviour had been witnessed by you and then made you feel incredibly uneasy, to repeat observed behaviour that wasn't even yours in the first place?
Daniel Colman (1996) stated that "anger builds on anger", I would take it further and say like anxiety it can appear contagious unless contained. And that keeping a lid on it is one of ours and society's biggest challenges. To combat this, it's a suggestion of soothing the endless loop of what some term as melodrama or dissociative behaviour and that these thoughts being affected is a natural human trait, it's about letting it out in controlled and intelligent ways. And about protecting your own boundaries and limiting the discovery of these very raw emotions from those that could potentially do you more harm than good, especially in business. Raw and very honest emotions should really be saved for those who care most about you and for those who can support you through, or a confidential session with your therapist.
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So many times, our resources been pressed so hard that the temptation to "flip" one's lid becomes very attractive. That emotional release, whether intense anger or europhic happinness. But it's not good in the business sense to become "crazy" or "very angry". This creates misunderstandings and the ways in which you and your action are viewed can become miscontrued. Worst still, damage to your own personal work relationship and reputation, along with other relationships can be irritrevably damaged.
We've all been there and I'm sure all had this happen. You might wonder how this sensation can occur and from where. Well, we each have an amygdala at the base of our brains, the almond shaped cluster of structures near the bottom of our brain. There is actually two, one each side of our brain and this particular part of the brain closely relates us to primate and emotional regulation. Our passion and our fears sit here. Very strong emotions, whilst we all have the ability to "flip our lids" at various moments in life, it's important to also be aware of what's happenning at the time and to keep these very kaleidescopic emotions in check. One way, is to rememeber to breath, taking air in slowly to a count of five and releasing it slowly to a count of five, over and over until the emotion subsides. Easier said then done I hear you say? Yes, you are indeed correct, it's always easier saying or writing it. But it's important to consider the very strategies that work for you to maintain emotional regulation. Those that can do this and deliver a very balanced response to the stimulus that's creating conditions seem to do it with ease. Rest assured, it is something you can learn. Go well, and try not to "flip your lid" too often. |
Robyn Rottinger
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