This week is the beginning of the fast track to the holidays. Everyone, no matter what their religious persuasion, is impacted by the bustle, the songs, the red and green decorations, the deep desire for holiday cheer and the disappointment if the dreams and hopes don’t measure up to the realities.
What to do? First, it is important to breathe! Yes, this is simple, inexpensive, and possible at any moment of the day. Deep breathing is better than cookies, wine, and even a new shiny car. Here is what to do: find a quiet place; even if you go into the bathroom and lock the door for five minutes. Keep your feet on the floor and hands on your lap. Then close your eyes. Take a long deep breath through your mouth and then exhale quickly and forcefully through your mouth. Do this at least 7 times and then sit for a moment to let the oxygen stream through your body.
If at work you see your employees and co-workers getting jittery and moody, take a few minutes and stop by their desk and without going into detail, let them know you are there to support them. Offer the breathing process by telling them it helps you when you feel like the kettle beginning to boil. Just stopping by, acknowledging that this is the toughest time of year, even in a good year, tensions increase, and giving them something simple to help them calm down will definitely make a difference.
No amount of “stuff” will help as much as a hand extended to say “you are not alone” and the corollary “we are all in it together”. Let’s see this difficult economic year end with leaders helping to defuse the stress and tension by being there for staff in a way that transcends even bonus money. Caring on an emotional level will bring dividends into the New Year as we all imagine a healthier economy and a kinder world.
You breathing process seems very effective to get calmness. This act make me feel relax.
Enjoyed this posting Sylivia, hope to read much more over the next year. Stick at it!:D
I really do believe that the economy will get back to a good place in 2010! Positive thinking has to be the way forward.:D .-= Kettles and Toasters´s last blog ..Dualit Toasters =-.
19 months into recession and it seems to me that we’re still light years from recovery. Granted, Bernanke and the big boys are saying the economy is getting better but it sure doesn’t feel that way on main street.
A man who dares to waste any one hour of age has not discovered the value of life.
