Singing Out Loud Can Make You A Better Lawyer

It happens every year:

The rush of the season combined with closing out end of year business, dealing with family over the holidays, and feeling the pressure of setting new goals for the new year…

It’s enough to make anyone feel crazy.

But the most costly way to make big decisions is by reacting from a place of chaos filled with anxiety.

Powerful and purposeful decisions can only be created from a place of stillness, a place of being centered in who you are what you want to create.

I know.

It seems impossible to be anything other than overwhelmed when you are slammed with deadlines, obligatory parties, terrible traffic and the pressure of doing things bigger and better in the new year.

But, powerful creating can and should be done differently.

Our stress response isn’t complicated:

In fact, the brain and body react on auto-pilot to danger, whether real or imaginary.

When threatened, our sympathetic nervous system responds with one choice: Fight or Run. Our body automatically tries to help us by releasing adrenaline, cortisol and norepinephrine. These hormones help us to act quickly and can save our lives in true dangerous situations.

But when our body’s stress response is to a non-life threatening situation, (like deadlines and dinner with the in-laws), these hormones can wreak havoc on our bodies and fuel chronic stress, anxiety and even depression.

So what can you do?

It’s simple. Learn to engage the parasympathetic nervous system or the body’s rest state.

Let me introduce: The Vagus Nerve

The word “vagus’ means wanderer in Latin. This powerful nerve wanders through the body connecting the brain to many different essential parts of the body including heart, liver, kidneys, intestines and stomach, to name a few.

When the vagus nerve is stimulated, anti stress hormones are released like DHEA, oxytocin and prolactin. The benefits from toning of the vagal never include improved memory, sleep, immune system, blood pressure and even shifting you to a happy state.

Here are 3 easy ways to stimulate the vagus nerve and destress:

1. Breathe deeply. Deep slow breathing slows the heart rate while fast paced breathing causes the heart rate to rise. Try breathing slowing through the nose by inhaling for a count of 7, holding your breath for a count of 7 and exhaling for 7. Just watch how a minute of deep breathing provides an instant relaxing effect to your whole body.
   
2. Sing out loud. Any type of singing, humming, or chanting will increase vagal toning and help the body de-trigger the nervous system. So, jump into your favorite Christmas carol and sing like no one is listening!
3. Choose Loving Kindness Meditations. Studies show so many benefits of meditation and meditation focused on love, kindness and compassion directed to yourself and others is especially helpful for peaceful states. You can try out some powerful mediation techniques in this free 7 day guided meditation challenge. Click Here.

Wishing you less stress and lots more singing as you close out 2018,

Lexlee