Checking Your Perceptions

Checking Your Perceptions

1. Make a judgment; give reasons for

your judgment.

2. Check what others think; listen without

disruption.

3. Consider their viewpoint.

4. Reassess your original judgment.

5. Hold your position or make changes, if

appropriate

Psychic/Emotional Safety

Personal safety depends on us sheltering ourselves from assaults on Our emotions and well-being. The damage that attacks on our emotions can cause can be worse than a physical attack. It is the loss of control that is traumatic and lasting. When people insult you or frighten you they have taken away your right to be free of feeling bad. So, how do we protect ourselves emotionally and take back our control? Develop your emotional warning system.

Cultivate a state of calm alertness. Tension predisposes you to break under stress. However, alertness -- the optimal, activated, tension-free state of the brain -- enables you to observe an adversary and situation calmly and to choose your response rationally. Exercises to cultivate a state of calm alertness...

Create an inner safety anchor: Practice

Sit quietly and breathe deeply until you feel calm. Imagine a place where you always feel a sense of safety. When the picture is clear and present in your mind squeeze you thumb and first finger together. Practice this exercise several times a day. If you practice this enough, you will be able to create calmness and safety every time you press your finger and thumb together.

When faced with hurt,

...