| Has something stressful or upsetting happened to | | | | able to become much calmer than I had been. This |
| you recently? Maybe it was a fender bender car | | | | felt better plus it allowed me to have a more |
| accident, or telling a friend she did something that | | | | effective conversation with my friend than I would |
| hurt you, or being triggered by something your | | | | have had if I'd been completely agitated. |
| spouse said, or stepping on stage to make a | | | | Here are a few examples of personal 911s I and |
| presentation. | | | | others have used: |
| Even when you are following what lights you up and | | | | * I choose peace. |
| creating more of what you truly want in life, not | | | | * I choose love. |
| every moment of every day will be filled with ease, | | | | * I choose serenity. |
| joy, and pleasure. Each of us has moments, | | | | * I choose joy. |
| situations, and experiences that stress and upset us. | | | | * I choose love over fear. |
| What can you do to help yourself during those | | | | * Everything is perfect. |
| times? How can you calm yourself until you gain | | | | * All is well. |
| more perspective to effectively deal with the | | | | * God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I |
| situation? | | | | cannot change, the courage to change the things I |
| Use your personal 911! | | | | can, and the wisdom to know the difference. |
| What Is a Personal 911? | | | | While you're saying the words, you could also do a |
| 911 is the phone number we call in the U.S. when we | | | | grounding technique such as pressing your feet firmly |
| have an emergency and need help fast. We don't | | | | on the floor, rubbing your palms together, or deep |
| have to figure out what kind of help is needed or | | | | breathing. Many people also add a homeopathic aid |
| which number to call; we already know if we have | | | | such as Bach's Rescue Remedy. |
| any kind of emergency, dial 911. The 911 dispatcher | | | | In Your Life |
| sends the police, fire department, or medical | | | | If you'd like to experiment with this the next time |
| responders; the right help is quickly on its way. 911 is | | | | you're stressed or upset, here are some suggestions. |
| an easy and effective emergency system. | | | | 1) Choose your 911 now. |
| What about when you have a more personal | | | | You've probably heard people say "I can hardly think |
| "emergency?" You can't call the community 911 | | | | straight!" Science has now shown that, in fact, we |
| system just because you're stressed, jarred, upset, | | | | can't think clearly under certain conditions. When you |
| anxious, angry, or afraid and want some relief and | | | | are flooded with feelings and physiological stress |
| help quickly. But you can call on your own personal | | | | responses you'll have a very hard time figuring out |
| 911. | | | | how to help yourself. |
| Your personal 911 is a sentence, phrase or word you | | | | Have your emergency response prepared so it's |
| say to yourself during trying times, something | | | | ready when you need it. Then, in the midst of a |
| designed to ease and calm you. Your 911 is simple | | | | stressful situation, you won't have to figure out what |
| and easy so you can use it anytime and anywhere. | | | | to do -- you just start saying your 911! |
| You choose it in advance and use it as your first, | | | | 2) Choose something that will work for you. |
| immediate response when you are stressed and | | | | There is not a universal personal 911 that will work |
| upset. No need to think about it; as soon as you | | | | best for everybody. Your most effective 911 will |
| realize you need personal emergency help, you just | | | | speak strongly to you: be powerful and meaningful |
| start saying it. | | | | enough for you that it will calm you, shift your |
| Your personal 911 will provide some quick relief, | | | | attention, and switch your perspective. It may be |
| reducing your stress and calming you. Once you're | | | | one of the examples above or it may be something |
| calmer, you can then take whatever additional | | | | completely different. |
| actions are needed to help yourself and to deal with | | | | 3) Use it! |
| the situation. | | | | When you're feeling stressed or upset, use your 911. |
| Would One of These Work For You? | | | | Repeat it over and over, like a mantra. If you start |
| I just used a personal 911 myself. I was meeting a | | | | with the little things, the stuff that's mildly upsetting, |
| friend for breakfast and I had something to discuss | | | | you can build your ability to use this in tougher |
| that was difficult for me. Anticipating the | | | | situations as well. |
| conversation stirred me up; I was agitated and | | | | Your personal 911 is a simple tool to add to your life |
| anxious, my mind was racing. | | | | toolkit. You can quickly and easily call on it when |
| To calm myself, I used one of my personal 911s: "I | | | | you're in situations that challenge you. Using your |
| choose peace." I kept saying this to myself over and | | | | personal 911 will reduce your stress, calm you, and |
| over and over again. I was able to shift some of my | | | | allow you to more effectively respond to the |
| attention from the thoughts that were upsetting me | | | | situation. |
| to more soothing thoughts. | | | | Enjoy! |
| Did it make my problem disappear? No, but I was | | | | |