CHANGE YOUR PHYSIOLOGY TO CHANGE YOUR FRAME OF MIND

Change Your Physiology to Change Your Frame of Mind
By Paul Keetch

Do you ever find yourself in a rut, knowing that you are in a pattern of behavior that is non-supportive for you, but seem unable to get yourself out of it?
Do you wish you had the necessary tools so that you could immediately change your frame of mind and switch to a more supportive mindset so you can get on with the things you know you need to accomplish?
Like most other people, you and I have patterns of behavior. Some of those patterns support us while others are less supportive. Our awareness of those non-supportive patterns is useful – critical even – but often that knowledge and awareness alone is not enough.

We can become so entrenched in our patterns - and are so attached to them for reasons that may seem to be beyond us - that even though we know we are in a rut, it seems difficult or even impossible for us to shift our frame of mind in order to counter-effect and eventually reverse the pattern.
Fortunately, with just one simple tool, we can use this awareness as a catalyst for change and turn our patterns around in a matter of minutes.

Here is a quick and simple way of changing your state of mind by directly changing your physiology:

1.Become aware of your current frame of mind.
Notice what you are focusing on and how you are perceiving things. Notice how you are feeling emotionally at the same time and how your thoughts and emotions are on the same wavelength.

2.Extend this awareness to your physical body.
Are you slumped or hunched over? Are there any muscles which are tight in your shoulders, back, stomach or legs? Are your eyebrows furrowed? Your eyes, squinted? Your jaw clenched?

3.Make the connection.
Notice the relationship between what you are thinking and feeling and your physical posture, muscle tenseness, etc.

4.Stand up and start to move around.
Jump up and down as high as you can in one spot, shaking out your hands and fingers at the same time. Raise your hands above your head as if you're jumping in celebration. Add some "whoops" and "cheers" to this activity. Jump around your office, house or apartment for as little as 30 seconds and as much as five minutes.

5.Stop, notice and take one immediate action.
When you stop take a moment to notice how your thoughts, emotions and physical posture have changed. Also pay attention to the fact that they are still inter-connected and inter-dependent, then take one immediate action in opposition to your previous “funk” using your newly created peak energy state.

Best-selling author and Peak Performance guru Anthony Robbins says that “motion puts the 'e' in emotion” and that by physically changing our state we can instantaneously change our frame of mind, mood or emotional state.
Using this tool to create a state change in yourself at will can assist you not only in getting out of a funk when you find yourself in one, but also for preventing them in the first place. When used immediately upon waking up you set the tone for the remainder of the day. Setting yourself into a peak state right before an important meeting or before you set about working on a project will raise your energy level, give you more focus and ultimately allow you to tap into your creative strengths much more quickly and effectively.

Action Step

Print this article off or jot down the five steps and go through them right now. Raise your energy, heighten your awareness and establish a reference point so that you know what it feels like and can go back to it with a moment's notice.