EASY WAYS TO TRAIN YOUR BRAIN TO COPE IN STRESSFUL SITUATIONS
Easy ways to train your brain to cope in stressful situations
Training our brains is often attributed to increased cognitive health, taking care of our brains through nutrition. We also train our brains to keep it ‘young’ and to maintain our brain elasticity through exercise, the following are just a few examples of this-
Certified Coach Kim Niese
Working puzzles and games every day. Mix them up and try new ones often. This helps build additional neural pathways and keeps your problem-solving abilities sharp.
Meditation can help train your brain for increased focus.
Spending time with people you love. Studies have shown that social interaction with people we care about strengthens our memory recall.
As a coach, I get asked, “What about stressful situations, can we train our brains to manage stress?” The answer is yes, we can. Even in stressful and difficult situations learning to divert and diffuse negative emotions and thought can change our energy and mental state to more positive ones quickly.
Whether it be what feels like a confrontation by a co-worker, your spouse, or an aggressive driver on the road – the technique is the same. It is important to train yourself not to over-react and to deescalate a tense situation calmly and as objectively as possible. Start with a few deep breaths to calm the racing heartbeat and tamp down the flight or fight response. Ask yourself these or similar questions.
What is happening?
Am I in danger?
What is the actual issue?
Is this about me or is it someone or something else?
In the face of this adversity, what is the silver lining?
What are the options?
What is my responsibility?
What am I learning from this?
Shifting our thoughts from a negative to a neutral or even positive frame shifts the energy we are feeling from weighted to lifted almost immediately. Feeling lifted gives us a stronger frame of reference when dealing with what has triggered our stress and the ability to see it for what it is and manage it successfully.
Next time you are faced with a tough situation, notice how you feel. Take a deep breath. Ask yourself questions. With practice this will be a go-to method for diffusing stress and giving the warrior in you strength and grace to move through it.
