Here is part 2 of our series on emotional intelligence!
If you can’t manage yourself, you can’t really manage anyone else!
There are three simple strategies I use to help control mood.
The first involves oxygen masks! When flight attendants tell us to put the oxygen mask on before the children, it’s so we can stay conscious to look after them! The first thing that happens when we get stressed is our breathing becomes shallow and high; our ability to think clearly goes as we move into fight or flight mode.
So be aware of your breathing and the second you notice you are tense, cup your hand over your nose and mouth and take in a HUGE breath and then breathe out fully, then do it again! Ok…so maybe you won’t do the hand thing but at least take two huge breaths! It’s the breathing out and second breath that expels the toxins!
The second is to put on your gratitude glasses! If you make a circle between your thumb and first finger on both hands and then put them over your eyes, they form your gratitude glasses!
Look at EVERYTHING that happens to you through your gratitude glasses, your world will change! Every time you see someone or something that aggravates you, put your GG’s on! And find something for which to be grateful about the person, the situation or your life! You’ll be surprised!
And the third involves bridges! The phrase ‘build a bridge and get over it’ can be a great reminder to let go and move on! Worry only about the big things in life. If you feel yourself worrying or focusing on something that is interfering with your performance or ability to relate, then make an arc with your hand and tell yourself to build a bridge and get over it!
WAKE UP AND WIN
Managing yourself is the first part of managing your relationships
