Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Question 8: What tools can I use to not bring work home with me?

This is an important question for many reasons.  I'm going to focus on one.  

If you have a bad day at work, come home in a bad mood, and your significant other gives you a hug to make you feel better, you are creating an "anchor."  What happens is, unconsciously,  the stronger (negative) emotion is being anchored to your well-meaning significant other.  Therefore, every day for a month you do this and viola- you have created a negative anchor to your significant other.  You don't know why, but every time you come home, (even when you're not in a bad mood) seeing your significant other puts you in a bad mood.  Not good!

To avoid this, you must change your emotional state before you go home- hence today's reader's question.  There are many ways to change your state;  some quite silly, others quite practical.  

*note: the key to a successful change of state is to be sure that the tactic you're using creates a more powerful state than the negative one you're in.

Here are some practical ones:
1. Create your own soundtrack.  Ever hear a song that instantly changes your mood because it reminds you of a thrilling time or a great movie?  Choose songs that really put you in a good mood, burn them on a disc, and play it in your car on the way home.

2. Vigorous exercise.  That's right, do some jumping jacks, run in place, do some "Rocky" style sit-ups, just get those endorphins flowing and sweat out the frustrations of the day.

3. Use your imagination.   Close your eyes and imagine a scenario that makes you feel an emotion that is stronger than your bad mood.  I suggest having some scenarios thought out when you're not in a bad mood to be used later.  This is because when you're in the bad mood it's harder to come up with something that will make you feel better.   

For more tips and articles by The Greenlight Coach, visit www.theGreenlightCoachBlog.com

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