Curious about Reaction: What Kind of Reactions Do You Have to the Vicissitudes of Life?

Definition of Reaction: A regular or characteristic response to a stimulation of the nerves. Any action in resisting other action or force; counter tendency; movement in a contrary direction; reverse action. An action induced by vital resistance to some other action; depression or exhaustion of vital force consequent on overexertion or overstimulation; heightened activity and over action succeeding depression or shock.

“A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst and it sparks extraordinary results.” - Wade Boggs, American athlete

“It's not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.” - Hans Selye, Canadian scientist

I chose “Reaction” for this week’s theme, because I noticed that I had an unpleasant reaction to a situation at the gym. Being on time – or even early – is important to me. The woman who teaches a fitness class before mine usually runs over her time. Because I teach the next three classes in a row, even five minutes can throw off the schedule. Once she stopped, my students started into the studio.

Her reaction was to admonish us for rushing them. I didn’t say much, but I am sure that my displeasure was evident, and I didn’t start my class on my usual high note. In Selye’s words above I did react to the stress of the moment. Later, when I rethought the reaction, I realized that letting myself react wasn’t helpful to anyone.

This may seem like a trivial incident, but it did make me realize how important it is to be aware of our reactions to the many ups and downs we experience daily. I do feel that we should check ourselves for reactions – both good and bad.

I know that when I am driving, I encounter many opportunities to react negatively to other drivers. Instead, I listen to audio self-help programs. To avoid negative reactions to long lines, I always carry reading material. Best of all, when I find I am reacting – especially to something my computer is doing or not doing - I call on my Yoga breathing and the hand position called “heart center.”

My advice to you is to know your “hot reaction buttons” and devise ways to avoid them and/or overcome them.

Some thoughts from our experts:

• “By action and reaction do we become strong or weak, according to the character of our thoughts and mental states. Fear is the deadly nightshade of the mind.” - Edward Walker, English athlete
• “A life of reaction is a life of slavery, intellectually and spiritually. One must fight for a life of action, not reaction.” - Rita Mae Brown, American writer
• “Every revolutionary idea seems to evoke three stages of reaction. They may be summed up by the phrases: 1- It's completely impossible. 2- It's possible, but it's not worth doing. 3- I said it was a good idea all along.” - Arthur C. Clarke, English writer
• “Every generation renews itself in its own way; there's always a reaction against whatever is standard.” Sol LeWitt, American artist
• “Excess generally causes reaction, and produces a change in the opposite direction, whether it be in the seasons, or in individuals, or in governments.” – Plato, Greek philosopher
• “The only honest reaction and true loyalty we get is from our animals. Once they're your friends, you can do no wrong.” - Dick Van Patten, American actor

Three more that I thoroughly agree with:

• “Any reaction is better than none.” - Gavin Rossdale, British musician
• “I always trust my gut reaction; it's always right.” - Kiana Tom, American model
• “It's not the situation... It's your reaction to the situation.” - Robert Conklin, American educator

Let me know your reaction to this blog. I love hearing from you!

P.S. The next time the other instructor runs late, I will just wait along with my students, smile pleasantly and avoid "sweating the small stuff."

Curious about Risk: How Likely Is It for You to Take One? And, How Has Taking a Risk Enhanced Your Life, Career and/or Business?

“What you risk reveals what you value.” - Jeanette Winterson, British novelist

“Our lives improve only when we take chances - and the first and most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves.” - Walter Anderson, German writer

WOW! When I started to hunt down the quotations for this week’s theme of “risk,” I was overwhelmed by the number. Not just because so many experts had thoughts and beliefs – mainly positive – in this area, but also because of the fact that so many others are hesitant to take risks.

We are presently in an economic situation which can be scary in itself. However, what I know as an individual is that if we are willing to take risks – and big ones, too – we will not only overcome the doom and gloom around us, but we will also flourish.

Yes, there will be challenges and obstacles. I am convinced that if we risk and persist – persist and risk – we will realize that we are in one of the best times for opportunity. In addition, when your and my opportunities appear, take that risk.

Here are many of the excellent and thought provoking quotations:

• “When you play it too safe, you're taking the biggest risk of your life. Time is the only wealth we're given.” - Barbara Sher, American businesswoman
• “You can't get there by bus, only by hard work and risk and by not quite knowing what you're doing. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover will be yourself.” - Alan Alda, American actor
• “If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.” - Jim Rohn, American businessman
• “If you risk nothing, then you risk everything.” - Geena Davis, American actress
• “Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” - e. e. cummings, American poet
• “You don't concentrate on risks. You concentrate on results. No risk is too great to prevent the necessary job from getting done.” - Chuck Yeager, American aviator

And some more:

• “You can measure opportunity with the same yardstick that measures the risk involved. They go together.” - Earl Nightingale, American entertainer
• “Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.” - Paul Tillich, German theologian
• “An entrepreneur assumes the risk and is dedicated and committed to the success of whatever he or she undertakes.” - Victor Kiam, American businessman
• “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” - T. S. Eliot, American poet
• “Everyone has a 'risk muscle.' You keep it in shape by trying new things. If you don't, it atrophies. Make a point of using it at least once a day.” - Roger von Oech, American writer
• “If you're not a risk taker, you should get the hell out of business.” - Ray Kroc, American businessman

First, write down your biggest and most important goal. What risks have you already taken to start working on your goal? What bigger risks can you now take? I have found that keeping a hand written journal gives me the courage to move ahead.

In the words of American First Lady Rosalynn Carter, “If you don't accept failure as a possibility, you don't set high goals, you don't branch out, you don't try - you don't take the risk.”

Curious about Tension: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. How Tension Can both Enhance and Threaten Our Lives.

Definition of Tension: The act of stretching or straining; the state of being stretched or strained to stiffness; the state of being bent strained; as, the tension of the muscles, tension of the larynx. Fig.: Extreme strain of mind or excitement of feeling; intense effort.

“Tension is the great integrity.” - R. Buckminster Fuller, American inventor

“One way to break up any kind of tension is good deep breathing.” - Byron Nelson, American athlete

I chose “tension” to be this week’s theme because I am noticing a level of tension in the people around me. This tension is leading to stress, which every physician and medical article cautions against.

Yes, daily we hear about all of the economic challenges that are growing. We have been told that, “It is only going to get worse.” And, even when you are an optimistic person like myself, it takes a lot of effort to believe that in every economic recession are the seeds of opportunity. Experts are telling us that many became millionaires during the depression. Will we? I like to imagine so.

So, I ask you how you are dealing with today’s tension? Let me share some of the ways I am overcoming daunting tension and all of the negative news we are bombarded with daily:

1. Exercise and physical fitness are my favorite standbys. I fight tension with the resistance tension of working with tubing and elastic bands. I have also started teaching a modified Yoga class, and embrace Byron Nelson’s quotation about breathing. The attention to breathing slowly and deeply in through the nose and out through the nose has had a huge calming effect.
2. Careful eating and nutrition are amazingly helpful. I notice that if I let myself go and partake of sweets and calorie loaded baked goods, I feel my energy dissipating and my body experiencing anxiety.
3. Rest and relaxation are necessary. Many articles have been written recently about the importance of getting a sufficient amount of sleep. This helps with productivity, and productivity – at least for me – leads to a reduction of task tension. A relaxing walk with nature is also soothing, along with reading for enjoyment.
4. And, finally, I suggest looking for that seed of opportunity. I have started working on coaching short projects one-on-one with some of my subscribers. So far, it has been rewarding and fun. In addition, I feel like I am learning even more from them than they are from me.

I found the quotations concerning tension to be both interesting and varied:

• “The tension between ‘yes’ and ‘no,’ between ‘I can’ and ‘I cannot,’ makes us feel that, in so many instances, human life is an interminable debate with one's self.” - Anatole Broyard, American critic
• “Secrecy involves a tension which, at the moment of revelation, finds its release.” - Georg Simmel, German Sociologist
• “I think a lot of contemplation happens in bathtubs. It does for me. Nothing like a hot bath to ease the tension and think about what's going to happen next.” - Sarah McLachlan, Canadian musician
• “The world is all gates, all opportunities, strings of tension waiting to be struck.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American poet
• “So what does a good teacher do? Create tension - but just the right amount.” - Donald Norman, American scientist
• “So much tension around here in New York. They want to fine you for every little thing you do.” - Latrell Sprewell, American athlete

A few more with a bit of a different twist:

• “I learned very early that an audience would relax and look at things differently if they felt they could laugh with you from time to time. There's an energy that comes through the release of tension that is laughter.” - Twyla Tharp, American dancer
• “If you ask what is the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn't ask me, I'd still have to say it.” - George Burns, American comedian
• “It is a mistake for a sculptor or a painter to speak or write very often about his job. It releases tension needed for his work.” - Henry Moore, English sculptor
• “The hallmark of our age is the tension between aspirations and sluggish institutions.” - John W. Gardner, American educator
• “The Constitution is never tested during times of tranquility; it is during times of tension, turmoil, tragedy, trauma, and terrorism that it is sorely tested.” - Mike Honda, American politician
• “In journalism, there has always been a tension between getting it first and getting it right.” - Ellen Goodman, American journalist

Are you feeling the tension? How are you coping with yours? I would love to hear from you.