Last week I was on MarieTV talking about Committed Impulse. If you haven’t checked out the segment – it’s right here…
After the interview went live, I answered a lot of questions online.
A lot of people said that there were certain emotions that made them shake, sweat, get blotchy, and for some, even pass out.
(Note to self for future Blog: No one said that any emotions made them fart. Write about this, people must be afraid to discuss.) (I’m back)
Let’s examine these body reactions.
For starters, emotions, nerves, anxiety, etc., do NOT cause your hands to tremble ( or those other dreaded reactions).
Here’s what I’ve discovered working with thousands of people who regularly put themselves out into the world in a big way.
The truth is, the shaking, redness, and heart palpitations occur when we try to STOP the feeling.
Emotions are simply fluctuating energies in your body. ( And they’re not good or bad)
Let’s imagine your emotions as a little squirrel running around inside your body.
Now, what do you think that squirrel would do if you tried to trap it because you didn’t like how it was moving?
Well, that lil sweety would get pretty darn frantic, spin around it’s confinement, and shoot poop bullets in all directions.
When I was a kid, my grandfather had a house in Queens, NY, and squirrels were always making their way down his chimney and running around his house.
So, I know a lil bit about squirrels.
Trial and error allowed Papa Berney to discover the best technique to get the squirrels out.
He would open the front door and go read the newspaper.
The squirrel would do it’s dance and then make it’s way out into the wild – no biggie, no damage, no poop.
You too can use Papa Berney’s technique.
When the squirrel/emotion/sensation starts running around your living room/body, let it do it’s dance – and then it too will run out the front door.
Remember the 7-12 second rule?
Any sensation that you fully experience will run it’s course very quickly and move on.
Sure, it may be briefly intense. But as long as you let the vibration in your body do it’s thing without trying to trap it – you’re going to be amazed.
You’ll feel some vibration on the inside, sure, but then…
So, my friend, love your squirrels, and you will become creatively invincible.
And if your hand does shake, take a deep breath, feel everything, see what is in front of you, and you are golden.
Have questions/comments? I’ll be happy to answer them below.
See ya in class!
I gotta go look at some more squirrel porn.
xx
Josh Pais
This is so true. Whenever I’m feeling that rush of emotions, if I just breathe through it, things calm in a matter of seconds. Kind of like labor pains – just keep breathing.
Gah. Thanks for the reminder, Josh. I gotta say, I need some reminders every now and then.
Last night I was about to punch a wall because I couldn’t figure out something website-related and my boyfriend got in my face, snapped, and said YOU’RE BACK! And then I was! I pulled my shit together, did the work that needed to be done and I’m on with my life.
Sounds like you have a great BF.
You’re back!
You hit the nail right on the head there Josh, genius advice! I have been trying the same with negative emotions recently – if I feel sad/angry, annoyed about something, rather than trying to change it and think I shouldn’t feel like this. I stand back and notice how it feels and accept it. ‘Ok girl, so you’re feeling sad – how novel, this is an unusual state for you (I say to myself) – enjoy this rarity!’ It works, once acknowledged and allowed, it passes really soon. Loses its power
Laura
I just finished the run of a play. I hadn’t done a play in a while because of the long commitment but I really wanted to take what I learned in CI for a good long drive.
If you asked me if I got nervous before going on stage I would have said no. Funny thing… when you start listening to the your body the more you hear. I DO! Every night! So… I let the squirrels run, breathed, opened my eyes and saw what was in front of me.. I’m back.
Two steps into the light the thumping in my chest was gone and I was in that scene. I had a deeply emotional scene. I only felt my body to be heavy yet not grounded before the scene and each night, on that stage, without my prompting, something wonderful happened. It didn’t happen at the same moment or in the same way every night but every night honest, beautiful, devastating feelings welled in me and out into the world.
CI Works like crazy. That’s the best work I’ve ever done.
Hugh! That is so inspiring. I’m so thrilled for you. It takes bravery to trust this way of working – but once you give it a shot – there’s no turning back. Congrats on making the leap!!
Loved this post! I’m going to try it next time I start feeling anxious, thanks for sharing!
Let us know how it goes.
This was such a great way to think about this! I LOVE metaphors, and will use this for sure 😀
Trembling is the body’s way of recovering after a shot of adrenaline! Josh, your approach makes so much sense since fighting the shaking results in Squirrel Syndrome (my contribution!!). Since trembling is part of a release process, interrupting the process means you didn’t go through the entire process in order to be ‘done’ with it and it sticks around for next time.
I’m just starting CI. Excited to learn more!
Hey Josh,
Thanks for the gold. And the giggles. Just a little word of thanks…I’ve been doing the CI Online course and LOVING IT!!! Decided to take it to help myself understand what to do with my Shooshie and to find a more centered place in my work — CI has met all my expectations and more. What I’m super excited about, however, is that the ‘four steps to fun’ (as I have dubbed them) have been a boon for my everyday personal tune-ins to one of my frequented stations: K-F*CT (Or “You Suck Radio”). Amazing how quickly I can spin the dial to a waaaay better place! ANYHOO, feels so good to be learning to ride the waves and to becoming more and more my best self — thanks for your part in that and for giving us CI!! You just rock, and that’s all there is to it. xoxoK
So Awesome kathy!
Keep going.
Next step – see ya in class.
Best
Josh
When I was a kid I had no trouble standing up in front of class, a crowd, or
on stage, spilling out lines or processing my knowledge about…well anything show-and-tell. Sometime around junior high was when all that changed. Pressure. Judgement. Moving to a larger town and being the oh so un-cool (or so I thought) new girl. I wish I would have known back then the power of authenticity. (And that I’d had it just a few years earlier in my innocence) My teenage years are where I lost my bravery to speak publicly, fearing all those rotten things teenage girls say, not realizing that we were all in the same boat.
My point is that each of us was once perfectly authentic and totally comfortable being vulnerable at one point in our lives. Certain experiences (at very least the hell of junior high ‘mean girls’/bullies) flipped us on end and instilled this shitty false sense of fear to stand out from the crowd. Lemmings. Where are you now? Thankfully, I prevailed and am living well as a successful, vibrant human being, helping other women find their confidence every day…and pulling six figures in my first two years of business. Boom. All because I genuinely care, and I breathe through my fears.
Thanks so much for your powerful message, Josh!
Oh! And on the note about farts. Here’s something worse: I once ate 3 large Laffy Taffy’s on a 12 hr. bus ride to a high school leadership convention. The next day…right before I was due to speak in front of the entire gym full of students…I shit my pants. In the hallway. And lots of people saw. The nearest bathrooms were under construction. There was no where to turn. It was too late. I had to throw my jeans away it was so bad. We were housed in classrooms for the 3-day event over Christmas break. I had to proceed to get through the next 2 days of the conference amongst my peers. They all new. But I lived. And now, it’s one of my funniest stories to tell.
HAHAHHAA
Oh My goodness.
Well, after shitting your pants – the rest is easy.
Thanks for sharting. I mean, sharing.
🙂
Here’s a big crazy question for a future blog: what if you have to fart when you’re on stage, giving a presentation? This is one silly thought that sometimes crosses my mind. Never happened to me but ….what if?
Anyway, just when I needed it, Marie and you fall from the sky. Thank you for your blogs about fear, nerves and public speaking.
As long as it is an SBD and not a trumpet – just go for it.
Then look around to see who could have done such a thing.
Everytime I look at squirrel porn, I can’t help staring at the nuts.
(Of course, I felt that way looking in the big, dance studio mirrors at CI Los Angeles!)
p.s. In the wings last week, waiting to enter, said permission to let the heart rodent run wild REALLY worked. Drove out the chest thump butterflies and the scenes took wing.
Josh, i love this squirrel story – vibrating, yes!
And Hugh: what an inspiring comment.
Thank you both!
Stephanie.
Josh,
I am going to try to get your free lesson, hoping to use in my situation,which is when I go shopping I get panic attacks. I hope I get it, because when I signed for the free video you were offering on Tuesday, all got was links to social networks.
Thank you Josh! I loved it.
Ok, I hear what you’re saying, but oh boy, when I’m in it and my chest is a thumpin’ it’s difficult to think of anything other than wanting it to go away. But I love the idea of letting it run its course and it will move on all on its own. So I’ll try that next time I have to speak in front of a group (I usually try to avoid this at all costs!) and see what happens. Wish me luck! By the way, love listening to Marie and now being introduced to you too! You two are great!
Hi Valerie
It’s key when the heart starts pounding to stay very connected to who/what is in front of you in order to stay out of your thoughts.
LOVE the squirrels!!! Next time i get ice cube hands and feet I will remember the squirrels. Too adorable. Thank you!
Let us know how it goes.
🙂
Very good, thank you I have got to read a little bit from a book tommorow, it has really helped please could you do a video on you tube about reading a book opinion front of the class