Dooley Noted: 4/19/2016
Today was a true test of my emotional management.
The hits just kept coming, attempting to jam my trajectory into chaos.
I found myself more frazzled than I had been in some time.
Then, I took some advice that I give so often to others.
I exhaled.
I focused hard on getting control of my exhale, since that moment is when oxygen is delivered to cells.
And since the brain uses 20% of my total oxygen, I figured I needed more exhalation in order to get more cerebral access.
It worked.
Storms will always occur in life.
Sometimes, they happen all at once.
But nothing must get in the way of breathing.
It must become the thing you go to first when you’re in trouble.
If you give the power away, you’re left with no defenses.
If you let circumstances enrage you, you breed more rage.
Today, I chose to stay blameless.
I didn’t curse my circumstances.
I didn’t let the circumstances attach to me.
I returned to the only thing that keeps me alive – breathing, and I controlled the way I do it.
The result was a transference of anger into fuel for decision-making.
The more I had control of breathing, the more oxygen I delivered to cells.
I gained limbic system control of my emotions by shuttling the focus to my homeostasis.
Circumstance happens.
Anger may result.
But it doesn’t have to be fed.
Feed the breathing.
Breathing matters.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley
