Daily Archives: January 17, 2008

D-Day For The Kick Off Of The Workshop Series

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When I played music with bands, and particularly as a singer I rarely got stage freight until the moment I stepped on stage.

I still feel the same now. I feel a little anticipation about the workshop this evening but I am not anxious. It is an experience whether 1 person shows up or 30.

I used to feel the same about singing in front of an audience. It was a fun concept and I enjoyed looking forward to it. I would get excited but not scared. However, a few minutes before stepping on stage, I would get stage freight. I don’t know if you know that feeling but it can be overwhelming. Imagine that no matter how strong you are, convicted of your strengths or sure about your product, stage freight will make you want to run away like a coward. It is a feeling that completely takes you over and reduces any of your rationalizations to dust. It reminds you that we still haven’t completely tamed our lower human nature.

Overall, it is fun to witness these feelings. My hermetic philosophy studies have taught me a great deal. I understand how to surmount these events and their associated feelings better. I climb to a higher point of view within myself, if you can call it that, and I observe myself. For some reason, this gives me enough detachment to view myself from above or in the third person. It makes me see the tools and systems I possess and how to engage them for any particular situation I encounter. Even though it doesn’t wipe away the feelings, it shields me from them affecting me irrationally. I sense them but they don’t overtake me.

This is probably what the ancient Hermetists called the Law of Neutralization. You climb ever so high within yourself to a point of observation. The rest is just watching, understanding and acknowledging. It’s a great technique anyone can use in a multitude of situations.

How Do You Deal With Stress?

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Perfect subject today, because I am launching my first series of seminars entitled: “Whose Life Is It, Anyway?” this evening at Heavenly Scents in Long Beach. Please, go to my website for more details.

Everyone has different ways dealing with stress. One thing is for certain, stress is a negative experience and if not handled correctly leads to nothing creative. In fact, it is a very destructive force, both mentally and eventually physically. There are two types of stress. The gentle type, reminding you you need to address something and the other, the lingering one. One thing to do, look above and beyond. Determine to see how important it is. Set the priorities. Learn to turn into the creative type.

First things first, take a few deep breaths any time you feel stress to release tension. And when you think you took enough breath, take another 10. At this point it should be easier to relax. Try some light meditation when you get to this stage. It might not be easy at work, but go sit outside for while or go to the restroom and lock yourself in.

It’s important to become proactive instead of reactive. When you feel a stress-inducing situation, learn to trigger a stop reaction. Stop and observe yourself. Recognize the causes of you stress. Start thinking about coping strategies. What is the best way to handle this situation? How can I shift my attitude? Just don’t let it linger there. Become aware of it. Sometimes the awareness alone is enough.

In the end, lighten up! Seriously, let go. Think of how may people have lived before us and how many are to come. Don’t take yourself so seriously, you might miss out on the important stuff.

Change is inevitable. Nothing rests, everything vibrates, so the old Hermetic axiom go. And look around you, what is still?

If you still feel overwhelmed, than contact a Coach. What? You don’t know where to look? You are already looking :) Contact me.