Perfect Poise, Perfect Life
Bring your body into balance and revolutionise your life
By Noel Kingsley
Publisher Hodder Mobius
AVAILABLE HERE
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Change your emotions
Having been stood up by a client yesterday morning at 7.00am, then after re-arranging for this morning at 6.30am and again he didn't show, I could be excused for feeling a bit miffed. And I must admit that I did feel a little perturbed as I waited, unable to do much else productive in case the bell should ring. A range of emotions came and went from feeling put out, resentment, taken for granted, issues with respect and 'woe is me'.
But while I fume it does nothing for me and indeed undermines my own sense of well being. And then I remember that actually, there is nothing wrong with me at all and any ill feeling I may be experiencing is what I'm doing to myself. No one else is doing it to me. So, what choice do I make about how I feel?
It's interesting that there can be almost a compelling 'need' to feel bad, to really get the anger and adrenalin flowing. Grrr! But why? It only serves to hurt ourselves. No-one else. So while I'm waiting for my client and flicking through a range of emotions as one could flick through a magazine, I again remind myself that there is nothing wrong with me, and there is likely to be far more wrong with my client to cause such behaviour. "Poor chap." I can sense again how much he actually needs the work and benefit that the Alexander Technique to help with his balance, physically and emotionally, his centredness and calm, and I will be here for him should he wish to pursue it. I hope he does because it has so much to offer him....not just an improvement in posture.
So rather than seeing the episode as unfortunate and to be forgotten as quickly as possible, I give myself the time to acknowledge my own emotional state. Why do I feel this way? And then I realise that I have been given the gift of insight, by stopping to consider my own response to the situation; I have the chance to enhance my own life by changing how I perceive things. I always can. I am reminded that my own life experience is my own choice. I can choose any emotion I like. So I laugh. Ooops. Where did the anger go? Laughing and smiling is a sure way of creating endorphins that immediately neutralises adrenalin, dispelling stress and negative emotions. I can also ensure my neck is free and I'm breathing freely. And now I'm feeling pretty good. By doing so, I let go of any negativity and move forward. How long does it take to do this? Just a few minutes. Now I can move on. I've got many more clients today and it is going to be a great day. It's my choice. No one can spoil it except me.
Life can be very short. Indeed it is just made up of one moment after the other. Eckhart Tolle writes clearly on this in 'The Power of Now'. It's good to choose the best emotion you can and live each moment to the ful. There is only one 'now'.
Whatever one chooses, so it becomes.
:-)
