| President-elect Obama described the US economy | | | | minimize negative Emotions? |
| as "very sick." He further elaborated, "The | | | | Changed Attitudes. Think to yourself, " No, its not |
| situation is getting worse. We have to act and act | | | | the worst of times, but the best of times." The |
| nowPto break the momentum of this recession." | | | | Real Estate Network encouraged its readers that |
| While the 'act now' phrase may send a resounding | | | | recessionary times provide ample opportunities to |
| message to legislative and corporate decision | | | | buy inventory and supplies at a discount. Interest |
| makers-caution is required to avoid making | | | | rates and financing terms, it reports are lower |
| decisions in desperation. Decisions, which we may | | | | too. Also it adds that construction work is |
| regret later. For instance, haste led to the | | | | considerably cheaper to include real estate |
| following. | | | | properties. |
| Consumers Poor Decision Making | | | | The lyrics to the song, 'I Got a New Attitude,' by |
| A recent survey of 52 national chains by the | | | | Patti Labelle serves as a perfect mantra for |
| Retail Industry Leaders Association showed that | | | | constant repetition during these times is very |
| 84% experienced increases in petty theft in | | | | effective as it destroys the root cause of the |
| recent months. Loss prevention experts indicate | | | | 'stress.' New ways of perceiving the situation |
| that the increase is due to average people making | | | | provides a calmer environment prevents panic |
| faulty decisions in response to a poor economy. | | | | and eases the mind. |
| ABC News reported yesterday, five-month old | | | | Develop Conditioned Responses. When confronted |
| La'Damian Barton's mother almost died this week | | | | with a stressor or stressful situation, kids are |
| from ingesting watered-down bay formula his | | | | taught to stop and slowly count to five. Adults |
| mother gave him to cut the household expenses. | | | | may visualize something calming (picture the |
| Political Leaders and CEOs Poor Decisions | | | | beach, mountainside, waterfall, etc). Or taking a |
| Bank of America, PNC financial Services Group, | | | | deep breath and exhale slowly might do the trick. |
| US Bancorp to name a few have used their | | | | The key, each person should develop a |
| allotment of the $700 TARP initiative to | | | | conditioned response unique to individual tastes |
| re-capitalize and finance mergers and acquisitions | | | | and temperament. |
| of other banks. These buyout deals have done | | | | Get Physical. Jogging, taking a walk around the |
| relatively little to increase lending to consumers | | | | block. Rising from the executive chair to stretch |
| and to spur spending; the purported purpose of | | | | are all proven ways of reducing the negative |
| TARP. | | | | effects of stress. Hitting a punching bag, intimacy |
| Unmanaged Stress and Negative Emotions | | | | with your partner, regular exercise and twirling |
| According to sixteen years of research by the | | | | stress balls (for the sedentary) are also helpful. |
| HeartMath Institute, 'our emotions are much more | | | | Step Away. Walk away temporarily from the |
| important in the decision-making process than | | | | person and/or situation causing you stress. Step |
| previously thought.' The poor choices we make in | | | | away from the decision at hand. Think through |
| haste are often the byproduct of unmanaged | | | | the issue or problem. Can a decision wait until |
| emotions and stress. When we are calm, our | | | | tomorrow? After thinking though the si uation and |
| decisions are less biased and influenced by | | | | analyzing all possible choices, determine what |
| emotion-laden worries and fears. Stress is one of | | | | would be the consequences of leaving things as |
| the barriers to sound decision making:An | | | | they are for now and returning to it again after |
| estimated 75-90% of visits to primary-care | | | | the crisis simmers down. You'll be surprised. |
| physicians are for stress-related problems. | | | | The purpose of this article isn't to tout indecision |
| According to the Institute, confusion, irritability, | | | | and procrastination. Rather, it is to offer pause, to |
| frustration, anxiety, anger severely impacts | | | | encourage reflection, and a new way of looking at |
| effective decision making. Further, the | | | | things. Maybe the current problem isn't so life |
| organization, ThinkQuest reports that | | | | threatening after all. Suppose we are repeatedly |
| decision-makers, when under stress, lose | | | | presented with certain troubles to help us face |
| concentration, and hinder their ability to learn | | | | that which we fail to learn? It could be that the |
| (perceive new information). In fact, chronic stress | | | | larger question is not for us to manage the |
| may damage the hippocampus, the part of the | | | | symptoms or the condition occurring externally, |
| brain responsible for learning and memory. How to | | | | but to work on changing the patient (ourselves) |
| lessen the negative effects of stress and | | | | instead. |