It’s time to build your psychological immune system

It’s time to build your psychological immune system

It’s time to build your psychological immune system

You are walking through the woods. You hear leaves crunching behind you. Your heart begins to race, your breath quickens, and you feel beads of sweat form on your forehead. You turn around to see a small rabbit frozen, staring at you, then darting into the trees. You take a deep breath and start to calm down.

Being able to tell the difference between danger and safety is necessary for survival. In this situation, you were able to quickly realize the “threat” was not a threat at all.

Unfortunately, your brain cannot tell the difference between a real threat and a perceived threat. Our brain wasn’t designed for 24 hour news coverage, political divisiveness, and the onslaught of social media and constant connection.

Throw in a 2+ year global pandemic that has left our nerves frayed, and our brains and bodies tired. Yet, our list of to-dos isn’t getting shorter, and the demands on our time and energy aren’t lessening.

In order to regulate stress, battle burnout, and improve well-being, you have to intentionally build your psychological immune system.

If it is not possible to reduce the “threat”, you have to increase your sense of safety. Every time your brain gets a signal of safety, it replenishes your psychological immune system.

We can create safety signals, cues that we learn to associate with a lack of threat. These signals can be physical (an article of clothing, smooth stone, pet, etc.), or they can be mental (imagining being in your favorite place, thinking of someone you love, remembering a calming smell).

What are your safety signals?

Identify a few of your safety signals. What helps you feel calm, comfortable, and at peace? It is important to create a collection of these proactively so that you can pull from these resources when you need them.

While it’s easy to rush through this list, I want to challenge you to take a few moments to really think about the ones that resonate with you. Write them down, take time to visualize, and internalize the feelings you get when you think about your safety signals. This helps your brain and nervous system associate them with being calm and relaxed.

For example:

  • An object that brings you comfort
  • Something you can nurture and care for
  • A person in your life that makes you feel safe and loved
  • A personal strength that has allowed you to overcome challenges and setbacks
  • An accomplishment that brings you joy and pride
  • A place that helps you feel calm and centered
  • A memory that brings up positive emotions
  • A personal sense of meaning and purpose
  • A community that gives you a sense of belonging

A collection of safety signals helps you to take back control in a world that can feel very out of control. This week, pay attention to safety signals, take some of the pressure off, and allow your psychological immune system to reset.

Stay brave and resilient,

Anne

Having friendships and a sense of belonging is considered a core psychological need and has a big impact on our physical and mental health.

In fact, it has been proven that social connection is one of the best predictors of longevity, which is why I`ve dedicated an entire module in the Resilience Reset Deep Dive to the importance of social connection to build resilience. Learn more 👉👉👉 https://www.annegradygroup.com/deepdive/

Here`s what my girls Wendy and Daisy have taught me about the importance of connection 🎥
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Let’s face it - life is stressful. The lines between our personal and professional lives have blurred, we are overwhelmed by increased workloads and decreased resources, and there is an unprecedented amount of change and uncertainty.

Uncertainty often leads to anxiety because the brain tends to fill in the gaps with worst-case scenarios. You can help your brain cope with anxiety by practicing these skills 👇

1️⃣ Cultivate a Growth Mindset
2️⃣ Practice Mindfulness
3️⃣ Control the controllables
4️⃣ Break it down
5️⃣ Maintain Healthy Habits

More tips and strategies are in this month’s blog post. The link is in my bio!
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Did you know that resilient teams have:

⭐️ 74% less stress AND 75% greater productivity
⭐️ Higher engagement and performance
⭐️ Improved Innovation and creativity
⭐️ Stronger relationships & Greater well-being

Using the latest research in neuroscience and psychology, the Resilience Reset Deep Dive provides a road map to developing resilient leaders, teams, and organizations. Interested in learning more? Here`s a sneak preview of one of the modules. 🎥👀
...

#ThrowbackThursday to a Tiger King Halloween 🐯 ...

Realistic optimism is a mindset that combines a positive outlook with a grounded understanding of reality. It involves maintaining hope and confidence while acknowledging and accepting the challenges and uncertainties of life.

Rather than denying or minimizing difficulties, approach situations with resilience, flexibility, and a belief in your ability to navigate obstacles effectively. You’ve got this. #mindfulmonday
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We’ve all had those days where everything seems to go wrong. You wake up late, your coffee spills and your car won’t start. It’s easy to let a lousy morning spiral out of control and ruin your entire day.

Wherever we direct our attention becomes our reality. In other words, we find what we look for. Here are 3 things you can do to create a bad moment boundary:

1️⃣ Accept It: The sooner you can give it a quick “It is what it is” label, the better.

2️⃣ Put It in a Box: You can revisit the box later, but for now, the box holds this experience, and you don’t need to carry it.

3️⃣ Reset: Rather than jump into the next task or activity, take three deep breaths, extending the exhale.

For weekly resilience-building tips, tools, and strategies, sign up for my newsletter here 👇
https://www.annegradygroup.com/strong/

*Link is also in my bio*
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Read Up on Resilience!

Anne’s Books Available on Amazon.com!

ANNE GRADY IS A SPEAKER, AUTHOR, AND #TRUTHBOMB DROPPER!

Anne Grady is a Speaker, Author, and #TruthBomb Dropper.

Anne shares practical strategies that can be applied both personally and professionally to improve relationships, navigate change, and triumph over adversity. And she’ll make you laugh while she does it. Anne is a two time TEDx speaker, and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fast Company and Inc. magazines, CNN, ESPN, and FOX Business. She is the best selling author of 3 books. Her newest, Mind Over Moment: Harness the Power of Resilience, is available on Amazon now.

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