creative blocks

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Why Stress Is Terrible For Problem Solving

July 31, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

You know that stress can be bad for your health. And it can make a big problem even bigger

Start downsizing that problem with a GenuLines look at how this happens.

Why Stress Is Terrible For Problem-Solving

Got a challenging problem that’s stressing you out? Is it preventing you from working to the best of your abilities?

Then take a lie down!

Lying down on the job might sound like the worst thing you could do when you have a problem. But it’s one of the very best options of all.

Let’s take a look at why…

Neurochemistry And Problem-Solving

Your brain reaches a different state when necessary. And it uses different neurochemistry to get there.

When we’re stressed, our body assumes that we are in immediate danger. It responds by putting us in the ‘fight or flight’ mode.

This means you’re flooded with norepinephrine, dopamine, and cortisol – stress hormones.

They have many effects on the body. From contracting our muscles to clotting our blood (helps us survive injury). to taking blood and energy away from digestion and immune functions.

And these give you intense focus.

You get ‘tunnel vision’ so that you can escape from the threat you’re facing. This is very useful if you need to keep your eye on the terrain while a leopard chases you.

But it’s not very helpful when facing the kinds of problems you encounter in the office.

Creativity and Problem-Solving

To be specific you have to be able to think outside the box and to make connections between disparate ideas. That’s why you’re actually at your most creative in a relaxed state – even when you’re close to sleep.

The hypnagogic brain produces many creative works and scientific breakthroughs. And, by definition, this happens right before dozing off..

In fact, studies show that sitting in a more supine position increases creative thinking.

Likewise, the color green alone is enough to help us increase creativity. That’s because we associate it with being in natural environments.

Even alcohol can help increase creativity in some circumstances. It’s a depressant that puts us in a subdued state (though GenuLines is not recommending that you do this.)

Next time you’re faced with a difficult problem, remember this. Your stress will only make it tougher to find the answer.

So relax, take a breather, and come back to it when you feel calmer!

JohnK 7-31-2023

chiforyourself.com

Overheard: “Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.”

– Hans Selye

Why Stress is Terrible for Problem Solving

August 29, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

Working on problems and dealing with the resulting stress is a delicate balance. It can derail an important project.

GenuLines looks at the problem for ways you can keep everything “on the rails,”

Why Stress is Terrible for Problem Solving

Got a challenging problem that’s causing you stress? Is it preventing you from working to the best of your abilities?

Then take a lie down!

Lying down on the job might sound like the worst thing you could do when you have a problem. But it’s actually one of the very best options of all.

Let’s take a look at why…

Neurochemistry and Problem Solving

When we’re stressed, our body assumes that we are in immediate danger. And it responds by putting us in the ‘fight or flight’ mode.

This means that we’re flooded with norepinephrine, dopamine and cortisol – stress hormones.

These have some effects on the body. From contracting our muscles, to clotting our blood (so we can better survive injury).

Another effect is intense focus. The resulting ‘tunnel vision’ helps us escape from the threat we’re facing.

This is very useful if you need to keep your eye on the terrain while you run from a leopard that’s chasing you. But it’s not very helpful when facing down the kinds of problems you encounter in the office.

Creativity and Problem Solving

This is because problem solving in the modern world requires creativity. It requires us to be able to think outside the box and to make connections between disparate ideas.

That’s why we’re actually at our most creative when we’re relaxed – even when we’re close to sleep.

The ‘hypnagogic’ brain state is what we slip into right before we nod off. It’s actually considered responsible for many creative works and scientific breakthroughs.

Studies say this is also why sitting in a more supine position at work boosts creative thinking. Likewise, exposure to the color green is enough to increase creativity.

Our subconscious mind associates it with being in natural environments.

Next time you’re facing stress, know that your stress will only make it more difficult to find the answer. So relax, take a breather and come back to it when you feel calmer!

JohnK 8-29-2022

chiforyourself.com

Overheard: “Problems are the price you pay for progress”

~Branch Rickey

5 Confidence Tips for Dealing With Strong Personalities

July 3, 2018 John Uncategorized No comments

Does your confidence take a tumble around mid-week? Do you roll your eyes as you say the words “hump day?”

Is there a strong personality leaning on you? And if so, what do you do?

Chi For Yourself wants you to find that sweet spot between “monster” and “doormat.” So the following tips are offered for your consideration–

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ARTICLE:

We’ve all come across people with strong personalities.

But what exactly does this mean?

It’s difficult to find one definition of a “strong personality.” Urban Dictionary online defines it as “an aggressive person; a difficult person.”

Others use the following descriptive terms: intimidating, overbearing, impatient, intolerant, controlling, bullying behavior.

You want to deal with these strong personalities without punishing your confidence level.

Fortunately, there are ways to do this. Here’s what you need to keep in mind.

1. Get to know the person underneath –

You can’t over-emphasize this point. Getting beneath a person’s tough exterior can help you understand why that person is the way he/she is.

Family of origin for example.

You may be dealing with an oldest child. One who came from alcoholic parents, and had to raise three brothers and sisters.

Ways to get to know the person include engaging him/her in conversation. At the start, it may be a sincere compliment about a new hairstyle or a new coat, or asking how his/her weekend was.

You want to stay on that person’s good side, and you can do this by being likable and friendly. In turn, you’re also likely to pick up on traits about the person that you like.

2. Don’t take it personally –

Strong personalities tend to be direct and they don’t mince words. If you learn to shrug off the way something is said to you, you’ll do well.

3. Stay calm –

People with strong personalities are up to the challenge of arguing their point. So it’s better not to go there.

Stand your ground, but don’t let it get to the point of an argument.

4. Use humor –

Let’s say someone is barking orders at you even though you have a good relationship with them. (as explained in tip #1 above). Consider using humor.

You could say, “Sure, I can do that, but I expect you to buy me a coffee when we go for break.” In this way, you’re acknowledging a request, but you’re showing that you’re not taking it to heart.

5. You have valuable ideas too –

Often people with strong personalities are testing you. They don’t like to see weakness in others as much as they don’t like it in themselves.

Keep your confidence up by speaking clearly and with conviction, but do it kindly. Don’t be a wishy-washy type of person who can’t make a decision.

If you can’t come to an agreement on something, don’t walk away exasperated. Instead, leave room for discussion later.

It may go nowhere later too. But at least you keep your self-respect and the knowledge that you can deal with all kinds of people.

JohnK 7-3-2019

ChiForYourself.com home

Overheard: I am very confident. I look confident. I act confident. I speak in a confident way…

~ Milton H. Erickson

Develop Creative Ideas- And Make Them Your Own

June 27, 2018 John Uncategorized No comments

Creativity is a word that’s familiar to you. You probably use it from time to time. But do you understand it?

Creativity is about imagination, newness, freshness, and ingenuity. Yet it’s tempting to copy creativity from others. Below you’ll find some ways to fuel your creativity ‘engine.’

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ARTICLE:

Creative genius. It’s all around you. In the phones and other tech devices you use. In the music you listen to and the movies that keep you riveted to the screen.

And maybe you have the mistaken opinion that only a select few are able to unleash a steady flow of creative genius. It probably comes from the idea of ‘personality type.’

This makes you think personality and style of working are set in stone.

That’s not true at all. Your so-called personality type is only a set of behavior patterns. You took these on to help you meet the different challenges of your early life.

You can change those patterns.

The fact is, creativity is very much like a muscle that needs exercise to give you great results.

If you don’t practice harnessing creative thinking, this skill will atrophy. And the ‘muscle’ will become weak.

But keep it working and it will come to you whenever you call.

So how do you unleash your creative thinking? Well, the first thing to do is to become a human leech.

No, we’re not talking about sucking the blood out of every living being in sight. We’re saying that you should take in as much knowledge and learning as you can find.

Read everything available — good and bad. And keep your mind open to the infinite possibilities of the universe.

The more you know, the more you’ll want to know. And the more your faculty of wonder will kick in.

Prepare to be amazed at little facts that add a bit of color to your life.

Focus on a creative activity every day. Yes, it’s an effort. But even doodling is a creative activity.

Don’t let anything hinder you.

Sometimes daydreaming is a creative activity. But if you’re new to creative thinking you might need concrete evidence.

When you see it you’ll be able to say “hey, what I’m doing is getting somewhere.”

JohnK 6-27-2018

chiforyourself.com home

Overheard: “Creativity is a drug I cannot live without”

~ Cecil B. DeMille

Reclaim Your Personal Power Through 6 Body Wisdom Areas!

September 13, 2017 John Uncategorized No comments

Author, teacher, and CHI FOR YOURSELF guest Suzanne Scurlock-Durana is back with an invitation to:

Reclaim your personal power through 6 body wisdom areas

Join [FREE virtual event] w/leading body awareness expert

How would it feel to be truly comfortable and at ease in your own skin? To be able to release the residue of traumas and long-held blocks that may be highjacking your joy, creativity, and vitality?

The key to experiencing this powerful shift lies in discovering how to reconnect with the deep wisdom of your body.

DoIng that can be challenging when influences from our culture, education, childhood and the past cause us to “live” in our heads or only in part of our bodies –– misreading or unaware of the signals and knowledge we’re receiving from the rest of our system.

On Tuesday, September 19, you can start to expand into your full body wisdom when you join leading conscious awareness expert Suzanne Scurlock-Durana for Reclaiming Your Body’s Innate Guidance System: How to Listen to Your Bones and 5 More Wisdom Areas to Heal Trauma & Increase Intuition.

Registration for this virtual event is free. Reserve your space now: https://shiftnetwork.isrefer.com/go/gsJK/a17256/

When you join this free mini-workshop, you’ll discover:

Why you likely have only one or two body wisdom centers open right now — and how that undermines your access to the full spectrum of intelligence and guidance waiting within you

Why it’s critical to inhabit the back of your heart as much as the front
How your gut holds the key to your security… and how to use its wisdom correctly to know when your next step is the right one
How the intelligence of your bones holds the master key for deep, nourishing meditations
A simple practice to get quick clarity on the biggest question in your life right now

Suzanne’s focus and passion is teaching you how to draw from the power in your body wisdom areas so you can be more present, healthy, wise and joyful.

If you’ve been looking for an exciting, experiential approach to awakening, healing and living your life with true vitality, you’ll want to join Suzanne for this fascinating event!

RSVP for free here: https://shiftnetwork.isrefer.com/go/gsJK/a17256/

P.S. During Reclaiming Your Body’s Innate Guidance System, you’ll discover how to attune to your body’s wisdom areas to dissolve stress, pain and overwhelm — and liberate your intuition, wisdom, personal power, and joy!

This event is free but requires registration. RSVP here: https://shiftnetwork.isrefer.com/go/gsJK/a17256/

A downloadable recording will be provided later to all who register, whether or not you listen to the scheduled event.

Chi For Yourself

Raising Consciousness..Living Genuinely!

Tag Archive for creative blocks

Why Stress Is Terrible For Problem Solving