With the wintery mix approaching Georgia, it’s a great opportunity to use your best emotional intelligence (EQ) skills. Here’s how:
- If you absolutely cannot avoid traveling on the snow and ice, begin visualizing how you will keep your cool if something bad were to happen. Visualization creates neuro connections in the brain that enable you to more readily do what you’ve envisioned.
- If you find yourself stuck in the snow or ice, use self regulation techniques like deep breathing and counting to 10 to calm yourself. Research shows that breathing in for 6 seconds and out for 6 seconds for at least two minutes will re-balance your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and bring your heart rate back to normal. Counting forces the logical part of your brain to re-engage when your emotional brain has taken over.
- Before you get too angry at that person who seemed to do something stupid and cause an accident, practice two EQ skills: empathy and compassion. Make every effort to understand why they might have done what they did before you judge them. And then show compassion by seeing if you can help. There were many compassionate heroes in our last snow storm. Be one of them in this one.
Stay safe and warm!
Thank you for reading and remember, it’s your choice to make it a great day.