E13 – Four Tools to Help You Find Peace of Mind

It might seem like Meditation and Mindfulness are new-age hipster concepts, but think again! From some of its earliest teachings, Judaism has been a faith and civilization valuing the connection between the body, the mind, and the soul — and how that connect us to each other!

Watch along as we discuss the importance of peace of mind as a Jewish teaching, and what tools you can use to help you find yours!

בישוב – deliberation

One should never rush to reply to questions; rather, one should carefully ana­lyze a question before replying. This prevents jump­ing to premature conclusions (Midrash Shmuel, Machzor Vitry ). Mili d’Avos renders with calmness. The most advantageous pursuit of Torah demands a calm environment.

Midrash Shmuel cites an alternative text בישבה, through attendance at an academy of learning: only in an atmosphere of intellectual ferment can one’s full potential be brought out.

Here are 17 ways to slow down impulsive decisions thus helping you have peace of mind. These points were obtained from members of Forbes Coaches Council .

  1. Press Pause And Give It 24 Hours- Most decisions can wait. Ask yourself if this matter needs your immediate attention. Act accordingly.
  2. Talk Yourself Through Your Process- Take the time to talk to yourself or others involved.
  3. Write Down The Facts- Before you decide to take action, write out what happened, who’s responsible and your desired outcome.
  4. Have A Level-Headed Colleague On Call – especially when you are embroiled in a stressful situation, an objective opinion helps us avoid assumptions and impulsive decisions.
  5. Active listening is a vital tool to help you stay out of your own thoughts.
  6. Explore The Benefits Of Patience – Think about situations where you take your time and don’t jump to conclusions.
  7. Slow Down Reactions For Better Responses – Instead of acting impulsively, write out sample responses before you feel you need to make a decision.
  8. Look Beyond The Numbers – one should not make a decision based solely on numbers; one should look at the entire picture.
  9. Understand The ‘Why’ Of Your Behavior – You are aware that you do it, that’s a good first step.
  10. Confirm Your Conclusions Before Acting – Making up stories about what others think or why they take certain actions is extremely detrimental to relationships and to your own energy.
  11. Stop, Drop And Roll
  12. Ask ‘Why’ Five Times – Ask why you think the situation or problem is occurring, then ask why you think that is happening. And then again.
  13. Stand Under Another’s Reality – This means truly listening to gain perspective by looking at a situation through another person’s lens.
  14. Ask Yourself If You’re Acting On Facts – Try not to jump to conclusions.
  15. Consider All Outcomes
  16. Talk To The People Involved, Then Trust Your Gut
  17. Play Devil’s Advocate – If you’re someone who constantly jumps to conclusions, challenge yourself to see the flip side of things the next time you’re faced with a dilemma.

Slow down the impulsive decisions and find peace of mind.

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