Got Stress?
Summer's here, and the living is easy, right? Well, you would think so, if everyone else could just get it right and stop messing stuff up! I almost think I should pick a lane at the grocery store, and then run from it... because without a doubt, whichever lane I pick, something is going to hold up that line. Wrong price, too many items, fruit not marked and cashier doesn't know fruit code... ugg! True to form, this happened to me again today. I was in a hurry and only had a few items, which lane? This one, yep, this guy only has a few items. Good to go. Nope! He wanted to buy some cigarettes. Locked up, stashed away, and apparently more valuable then gold, these cigarettes are evasive little buggers.
So, as I realize my jaw is tight and by hands are clenched, I start the same monologue in my head; "oh my gosh, really, why me?" when a sudden thought came over me; okay Rebecca, you just asked all of your teachers to think of a negative student behavior they don't want to happen again next year and state what they do want. Seriously? And I can't even make it through the express lane without losing my cool. Okay, I know I can say that I don't want to get in a grocery lane that will have incompetent people that hold up my day. Which means I can say - "I want to be able to get through the grocery line without any hick-ups or time-wasting events". Well, too late. So that doesn't work! In all fairness, perhaps if I had started that more positive thinking and energy before I was frustrated it might have worked. Hmm
What now? So, At our last PD, I asked the teachers to take that positive statement and try to feel that it may be possible. I asked the teachers to try to find just a softer feeling toward the positive statement until they can say the statement with every fiber in their being believing it is possible. Can I do that? We are about to find out. While I am a little behind the eight ball right now, I can take what I learned from Dr. Gentry and take back control over my reaction to this environment. As I stood there I immediately knew I was not in any real danger. Check. So, as I relaxed my jaw and pelvic floor I felt better right away. Deciding to turn this ship around, I picked up a magazine from the check-out stand and started flipping through. Oh my! So fun! Who knew! Who cares! Before I realized it, I needed to put the magazine away and pay for my purchases. Relaxed, stress free, pumped full of celebrity rumors, I left the store smiling. Okay, one step forward. This might work. This could work.
Standing in that line I realized this mumbo jumbo stuff about our brains is so difficult to wrap our heads around! While I believe the research, it is hard to really believe in something physiological or non-physical that you can not see. But, for me and my house, we believe. So, while I know that the next time I go to the store I will be purposeful in my thinking and clarity in knowing that I want to get to the store and get through the line without any problems. I will practice this. I will say this to myself, however, my brain will probably say back "really, where have you been? This happens every time you go to the store" at which point I will have to reach for that better thought/feeling. Wish me luck. I'll keep you posted.
