SNIPER MODE – a trance like state

 

I watch my cat when he has spotted a mouse.  He will sit there completely focussed on the hole the poor critter has taken refuge in for hours.   SNIPER MODE

Do we ever do that? Well for sure.  I have a snake phobia so if I’m near long grass I go into SNIPER MODE.  Not for a tasty meal like my cat but for self-preservation.  I will be sort of listening to you, sort of enjoying my picnic, but not really because I am in SNIPER MODE and completely focussing all my senses on that long grass for a movement, a sound.  Its like I am in a trance, in that I am pretty well unaware of anything else going on around me.

Now I could just move away from the long grass and then I would be able to release my senses from guard duty to really listen to the conversation and taste my food and feel the sun on my back and notice the beauty around me.  But what if you can’t move away from the perceived threat?

Fight or flight response.  Fight or run.  Great if you can but what if the perceived threat isn’t physical? What if it’s a thought or a prediction about an upcoming event?

This is how we get so run down, when we go into SNIPER MODE on a perceived or possible threat …

– a big bill coming in at the end of the month we don’t know how we are going to pay

– a meeting that’s looming that we are really concerned about

– a fear that our partner may be looking elsewhere

– anything emotional really

And the problem is you can’t move away from those threats or perceived threats because they are in your head and so follow you!  And you go in to SNIPER MODE totally unable to really notice anything going on around you but the perceived threat, moving through your days but not being in them, not enjoying or noticing any of the great things happening around you.

You are in SNIPER MODE.

And it’s exhausting to be so alert to danger, to be able to do nothing about it. And it wears you down and then you feel poorly and tired which makes the perceived threat even more of a problem.

Would you know if you had slipped into SNIPER MODE?

Whatever your fear or perceived threat is you have a couple of choices:  accept that from now till the great event you can stay in SNIPER MODE. Let whatever the perceived threat is take away your senses.  So very exhausting and it changes nothing but your health and ability to deal with the perceived threat if it ever turns out to be real.

Or you can smell the flowers, being in the moment and notice the good things and beauty around you.

Neither makes time pass any quicker but how would you rather spend your time?

If this is you, get in contact and let me help you choose how you want to feel, how you want to spend you time.

Taking time to think. Taking time for you

Taking time for you

All I have read and heard about in the media over the last period is about the stress, anxiety and emotional wellbeing of people and how everything is getting too much.  I have also seen an increase in the number of my clients coming to me with related issues.

If an issue is so big its very difficult to be in the ‘moment’.  Or if that phone keeps ringing, people keep asking you questions or you have a full diary you may not have the any time to think.  And that’s important.

I have been very lucky to be able to take time away from the phone, from actual work, and from other people to appreciate the beauty around me but to also give me time to think and arrange my thoughts, to plan my year ahead and to do something that I really enjoy – fishing.

I can’t recommend enough doing something you love or enjoy.  Taking time for you.

 

Burn Out, Stress, Anxiety – Take Time For YOU

Burn Out, Stress, Anxiety

We are warned when we are training about the ‘BURN OUT’ but I don’t think it matters what you do for a living or who you are as it can happen to all of us.

Its all too easy to swallow the stress of getting the job down, the ferrying of your kids about, paying the mortgage and you just keep going – pushing through because if you don’t who will and every other story you tell yourself.

Take it from me, it is so important to find a way to say NO, (if this offends I would suggest you question the relationship!).  Take time away.  An hour in the bath with a non work related book, sit in Hyde Park the listening to music, go fishing, play tennis, whatever is your thing – the world won’t end.

DON’T ignore your bodies warning signals, telling yourself ‘it will be alright’ your just tired….   Down time from whatever you do is so very important and not taking it will result in you not be able to do the things that you want or need to do.

Remember, when on a plane you are told to put your oxygen mask on first so you are strong enough to help others. Nothing you think you have to do is more important than YOU.  If you don’t listen to what your body is telling you, then you wont be able to do the things that are in front of you.

No, I’m not burnt out, but I do have lots on and it’s a timely reminder to ask you all to remember:  TAKE TIME FOR YOU  xxx