Last week I wrote about having strong commitment and letting go of our attachment to the outcome. Having a strong commitment can become stressful and serious, especially if the deadline is coming more quickly than you anticipated, or other unplanned events take your time away from the work required. I am working on a couple of deadlines right now and in the midst of this work my cell phone connector stopped working and subsequently my phone died as I had no way to charge it. I was planning to get a new phone in a few months; now I had to move forward. I resented being forced to make a decision and spend time that I did not have. I bucked up and spent the time to research the options, made a decision, and purchased the phone. Eleven days later the new phone stopped working. I started getting frustrated, feeling my body tense up and blood pressure rising. I don’t have time for this; I need to focus on these deadlines! Why was I lucky enough to get a defective phone? Then, my good friend called in tears. Her brother committed suicide. I tossed my planned schedule out the window and stayed on the phone as long as she needed me. How absolutely ridiculous that I was upset and stressed about a stupid phone.
Unfortunately, it often takes a tragedy to shake us up enough to realize that we have lost perspective and need to lighten up. A friend of mine used to have a sticky posted on her computer monitor that read, “Will this really matter in 100 years?” It was a good cue to keep perspective and not take things too seriously.
Our brains work more effectively if we are able to keep perspective and not become so intense. Stay committed and serious about the task but take yourself less seriously. If we lighten up then we avoid releasing stress hormones and negative emotions that keep our brain in a lower state and unable to think creatively. So, next time you are under a deadline and stressed about making the most of every minute and you are interrupted by your child wanting to show you something or your happy dog wagging his tail then stop and take a moment to enjoy the distraction and realize that you are doing your brain a favor.
What do you do to take yourself less seriously? Please share in a comment.
photo credits: ThomasHawk, Sparktography
Relax, Relax, Relax……. Stuff happens and you can only do what you’re capable of. Did I say Relax? For successful people this is something that must be learned and practiced.
Thank you Walt! Yes, relax! Simple but not always easy. Practice does help; sometime a good walk or swim helps me relax too.