{"id":43,"date":"2010-06-30T13:21:03","date_gmt":"2010-06-30T18:21:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wholeperson.com\/wordpress\/?p=43"},"modified":"2015-11-30T09:49:19","modified_gmt":"2015-11-30T15:49:19","slug":"it%e2%80%99s-easy-to-go-on-emotional-autopilot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wholeperson.com\/blog\/it%e2%80%99s-easy-to-go-on-emotional-autopilot","title":{"rendered":"Beware of emotional autopilot"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you on Emotional Autopilot?
\nBy Jacquelyn Ferguson<\/a>, MS<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s easy to block out painful emotions and operate emotionally on autopilot. Addictive behavior may be a warning sign that this is occurring habitually. To notice some emotions they might have to become extreme. But mindfulness stress management can allow you to face your emotions and not feel like you have to run from them.<\/p>\n

According to Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. and author of \u201cWise Mind, Open Mind: Finding Purpose and Meaning in Times of Crisis, Loss and Change\u201d handling stress mindfully helps you to be less reactive focusing on the big picture of a stressor. When automatically reacting to stressors you\u2019re reacting out of your unconscious, which is largely programmed from early childhood. In other words, automatic, defensive reactions tend to be coming from your inner child. You\u2019re also probably focusing on the details of the situation.<\/p>\n

Alexander says, \u201cThe key to dealing with stressful situations, especially for those who take things personally, is to develop a deeply grounded core rudder so that no matter what size of wave one encounters they can recover quickly and proceed with more focus.\u201d To remain grounded he recommends developing \u201cmindstrength\u201d through mindfulness meditation practice. \u201cMindstrength is the ability to easily and quickly shift from a reactive mode to becoming fully present in the moment, experiencing the full force of your emotions even as you recognize that they are temporary and will soon dissipate.\u201d<\/p>\n

He says mindfulness practices affect your brain\u2019s amygdala, the area responsible for regulating emotions. When the amygdala is relaxed, your stress response is more balanced. Your:
\n* Heart rate lowers;
\n* Breathing deepens and slows;
\n* Body stops releasing cortisol and adrenaline into the bloodstream, decreasing the potential damage chronic stress places on your body;<\/p>\n

Over time, mindfulness meditation, Alexander says, \u201cthickens the region of the brain responsible for optimism and a sense of well-being. This area is also associated with creativity and an increased sense of curiosity, as well as the ability to be reflective and observe how your mind works.\u201d<\/p>\n

When in stressful situations he encourages you to answer these questions, taking your pulse of the here and now:
\nWhat do I feel right now?
\nDo these feelings benefit me in any way? If I feel anxious and fearful, do these emotions lead me to insights, or do they cause conflict, hold me back, and distract or weaken me?
\nIf what I\u2019m experiencing is in response to another person\u2019s behavior, what\u2019s the evidence that that person\u2019s actions have little or nothing to do with me and are, instead, the result of what\u2019s going on inside his\/her own mind?
\nCan I depersonalize the situation?
\nHow can I nourish myself at this difficult time?<\/p>\n

Finally, Alexander says, \u201cMindfulness meditation and other disciplines such as martial arts, tai chi, and yoga are excellent ways of quieting the rational mind and opening up to the intuitive mind and its link to the spiritual creative force. Through this connection you can build \u201cmindstrength,\u201d stop reactivity, and focus on the big picture.\u201d (www.ronaldalexander.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Jacquelyn Ferguson, M. S., is an international speaker and a Stress and Wellness Coach. Order her book, Let Your Body Win: Stress Management Plain & Simple.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Are you on Emotional Autopilot? By Jacquelyn Ferguson, MS It\u2019s easy to block out painful emotions and operate emotionally on autopilot. Addictive behavior may be a warning sign that this is occurring habitually. To notice some emotions they might have to become extreme. But mindfulness stress management can allow you to face your emotions and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[40,25,19,20,10,24,8,11],"class_list":["post-43","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","tag-addiction","tag-counseling","tag-mental-health","tag-self-help","tag-stress","tag-therapy","tag-wellness","tag-whole-person"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\nBeware of Emotional Autopilot - The Wellness Report<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"To notice some emotions they might have to become extreme. 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