Is your Mind in a Green Zone or Red Zone
How to tell and what to do about it
“Well-being comes from meeting our needs, not denying them. When we experience that our needs are sufficiently met, the body and mind enter the “green zone” Responsive mode, and there is a sense of peace, contentment, and love. When needs feel unmet, we’re disturbed into the fight-flight-freeze “red zone” Reactive mode, and there is a sense of fear, frustration, and hurt.” -Rick Hanson
We’ve all felt peace at sometime in our lives. Many of us can think back to a moment where we felt extraordinary peace, a birth of our child, a promotion after years of hard work or maybe just even being on a hike outdoors where at some point you felt one with nature.
Whatever that feeling of peace was, it probably didn’t last long. Something came up, a problem to solve or an emergency to take care of, it moved you quickly into that green zone straight into red, followed by fear, anxiety and maybe even pain.
The most important thing to remember is that you can go back to that green zone whenever you choose. Through meditation, going for a walk to clear your head or even doing something kind for someone else can help get you back there. All you have to do is recognize when you’re becoming increasingly negative and actively try to counteract it with another action.
Until Tomorrow,
Jason Ziebarth
JZ#672