 photo: hidden fox , photographer, unknown. confidence, life coach, outcome, action, willingness, fear, fearless. outcome, certain, certainty,
0 Comments
 The Biology of Courage: We are designed to create, to think deeply, love profoundly, and act purposefully.
In living this life we are sometimes called upon to do things that are difficult and perhaps stressful. However, our habit of occupying our minds with trivialities, or our hearts with worry, instead of doing the work that progresses our career or our happiness is really just self-sabotage in full force. "I believe in the evolution of the mind, the heart, and the soul of humanity. I believe in improvement. I believe in growth. There is nothing quite as invigorating as being able to evaluate and then solve a difficult problem, to grapple with something that seems almost unsolvable and then find a resolution.” Gordon B. Hinckley, Stand for Something, 2000, p. 62 When, in the name of avoiding stress we use our ability to think and love deeply to distract us onto things that require neither depth of thought, or are of little consequence, we do ourselves a tremendous disservice. I know I've allowed this to happen to me. I have awakened to the distraction sometimes too late to prevent my own stumble and bruising, and have found the need to find my way back through the briers and thorns laid by my own pride. The noise of the world can overwhelm us, distract us, and drag us off the path that would otherwise lead to our greatest happiness. However, it is only on that path where we can have true perspective and can think clearly and creatively about how to overcome the obstacles and roadblocks of our lives. A Deadly Combination? One of the things that distract us are feelings of overwhelm and stress. Millennials have officially become the most stressed out Generation of American, with their parents, Generation Xers, running a very close second. We live in a time of demanding jobs, divorce, single parenting, violence, financial woes and career uncertainty. There is a 24/7 endeavor to keep up with texts, emails, and Instagram threads and record high rates of anxiety and depression. Stressful situations abound. Perhaps even this article is beginning to stress you out a bit. For years, psychologists have written articles, taught classes and workshops teaching people that stress is harmful and should be avoided, reduced and managed. In her book, The Upside of Stress, Kelly McGonigal, health psychologist, shares with us a finding that turns that belief on its head. Studies show that while high levels of stress increased the risk of dying pre-maturely by 43% this was only true for participants in the study who also believed that stress was harmful to their health. People who reported high levels of stress but who did not view their stress as harmful had the lowest risk of death of anyone in the study, even lower than those who had reported experiencing very little stress. The researchers concluded that it wasn't stress alone that was killing people. It was the combination of stress and the belief that stress is harmful. The researchers estimated that over the eight years they conducted their study, 182,000 American may have died prematurely because they believed that stress was harming their health….. That would make "believing stress is bad for you" the 15th leading cause of death in the United States, killing more people than skin cancer, HIV/AIDS, and homicide." So the question you have to ask is, can changing how you think about stress make you healthier? The answer would appear to be yes. If you change your mind about stress and how you think about stress, you can change your bodies response to stress. "Go ahead. Stress me out!" At the University of Rochester, stress researcher Jeremy Jamieson, used the Trier Social Stress Test, the most infamous and efficient method for inducing stress in a research setting to test this theory. Involving an unrehearsed speech about your personal faults and a relatively complicated math challenge while others rush you and judge your performance harshly, it’s known for making even the calmest and most confident of people break a sweat. The combination of impromptu public speaking and math combined with negative and unsupportive feedback, for most, is a sure-fire stressor. "If you were actually in this study," says Dr. McGonigal, " you'd probably be a little stressed out. Your heart might be pounding; you might be breathing faster, maybe breaking out into a sweat. And typically, we interpret these physical changes as anxiety, a sign that we aren't coping very well with the pressure." "But" she goes on to say, "what if you viewed them instead as signs that your body was energized [and] was preparing you to meet this challenge? Now that is exactly what participants were told in this study. Before they went through the social stress test, they were taught to rethink their stress responses as helpful. That [the] pounding [of your] heart was preparing you for action. If you were breathing faster, that’s great, it means you’re getting more oxygen to your brain. Participants who learned to view the stress response as helpful for their performance were less stressed out, less anxious, more confident." What Dr. McGonigal found most surprising, however, was how their physical stress response changed. "In a typical stress response," she explains, “your heart rate goes up, and your blood vessels constrict. This is one of the reasons that chronic stress is sometimes associated with cardiovascular disease. It's not healthy to be in this state all the time. But in the study, when participants viewed their stress response as helpful, their blood vessels stayed relaxed. Their heart was still pounding, but [the relaxed blood vessels are] a much healthier cardiovascular profile. It actually looks a lot like what happens in moments of joy and courage. The doctor further points out that “ Over a lifetime of stressful experiences, this one biological change could be the difference between a stress-induced heart attack at age 50 and living well into your 90s. - this is what the new science of stress reveals” - How you think about stress matters. Our ability to care for ourselves and for others in times of stress has always been part of our design. Oxytocin has been nicknamed the cuddle hormone because it is released when you hug another person and during other intimate situations. It encourages kindness and increases empathy. What many people don’t know, however, is that Oxytocin is as much a part of your stress response as the adrenaline that makes your heart pound. It motivates you to seek support, share how you are feeling. With Oxytocin as part of your stress response, you are better prepared to notice when others are also struggling so you can be supportive. When trials in life occur, your stress response encourages you to be surrounded by people who care about you. Oxytocin also acts on your body, it is a natural anti-inflammatory, helping your blood vessels stay relaxed during stress and the heart itself has receptors for this hormone, helping the heart cells regenerate and heal, strengthening the heart. And the more you reach out to others under stress or seek to support someone else, the more of this hormone you produce. Human connection in times of stress makes you increasingly resilient to stress. There is a study conducted by the University of Buffalo that supports this. A thousand adults in the U.S. were asked, what is by now, a familiar question: “how much stress have you experienced in the last year?” They also asked “How much time have you spent helping out friends, neighbors, people in your community?” and then they used public records for the next five years to find out who died. Major life stressors like financial difficulties or family crisis increased the risk of dying by 30%, but that wasn’t true for everyone. People who spent time caring for others showed absolutely no stress-related increase in dying. None. Caring created resilience. The world of science is now beginning to see that the harmful effects of stress on your health are not inevitable as once taught. Our ability to care for ourselves and others during stressful times has always been part of our design. Knowing this truth about how well your body is prepared for these times, how you think and act, can transform your experience of stress. When you choose to view your stress response as helpful instead of something to escape from, you create “the biology of courage”. And science now understands something that we need to be reminded of: when you choose to connect with others under stress, you create resilience. Trust that your body is designed so that you can handle life’s challenges and that, not only don’t you have to face them alone, you were designed to seek help and be of help in times of stress and need. SayHi@DeborahGuy.com for more information. Sources: Loria, Kevin, “It’s official; millennials are the most stressed-out generation” , February 6, 2015 Fry, Richard, “Millennials overtake Baby Boomers as America’s largest generation”, April 25, 2016 McGonigal, Kelly, Ph.D., The Upside of Stress, Avery, second edition May 5, 2015 
The Applicant Tracking System of ATS is used by most HR managers to streamline their hiring process. These systems have been nicknamed 'robots or 'bots' and are programmed to compare the job descriptions keywords to the keywords in your resume. If enough of them match, your resume makes it through to the HR Manager for review. If they don't, a canned rejection e-mail is on it's way to you after a respectful waiting period. And to answer the question you are thinking right now: "No" neither the HR Manager or their appointed minions ever see your resume or your perfectly crafted cover letter. it's the epitome of "nothing personal". Algoriphobia This filtering process, which saves the companies money and time, is creating growing anxiety amongst job seekers. This anxiety has become so prevalent it's been given it’s own name: Algoriphobia – fear of the algorithm. How to beat the ‘Bots Unless you already have an especially well developed network to connect you to the influencers for the jobs you truly want, you will need to create an resume and by extension an application that the algorithm flags as human eye-ball worthy, which can land you the face-to-face meeting and ultimately get you the job you want, you’ll have to adhere the to following best practices described by the experts: Though cost savings for companies, it can leave job seekers feeling doomed.
Bonus Tip: A longer resume is okay. The Bots don’t care about the length of a Resume. If, you feel you are already doing all these things, still not getting anywhere and are beginning to develop your own case of algoriphobia, get in touch. As your Career Coach, I can evaluate how effectively you have implemented the above pointers, especially tips 1, 2 and 6 and help guide you to success and past the automated gatekeepers to the job of your dreams. Deborah Guy, is your coach for the personal side of a professional life. Helping professionals like you manage your career effectively while creating a work/life balance that enables you to live the life your soul intended with clarity, care and courage! Learn more and connect at www.DeborahGuy.Com Deborah is a Professionally Certified and Experienced G5(Get Give) Career Coach #Career, #Resume, #Interview, #Job, #Transition, #ATS, #HumanResources, #Hiring  If you're a little uptight and feeling stressed. Dance it out. I'm talking to everyone here, guys and gals!
Shut the door, put your headset on and move. You will feel rejuvenated. Let your feet do a little tap routine under the desk. Do a double step or two when taking out the garbage. Dancing is proven to improve stress management and reduced psychological distress and has lasting effects Dance is rhythm. Rhythmic movement increases energy and lowers anxiety levels. Dance is definitely exercise. And along with the benefits of exercise it increases our confidence in how we move and the space we take up in the world. Dance can be spontaneous, teaching us to trust our instincts and impulses. Dance is often done as a community. Being around others who are also moving can decrease feelings of isolation. It can also support us in learning how to form healthy relations around wellness and common interests and fun. Dance expressed our individuality. It helps us recognize, appreciate, and love the unique ways in which each we hear and respond to music. Dance is every expression and everywhere. There is dance in each of us. How we navigate a shopping cart, or run up the stairs, or wave to a friend are all forms of movement unique to us. Movement can be dance. Dance can empower us and provide a new lens through which to see the flow of everyday life. Dance is language. As Martha Graham explained, self-expression has the power to point us in new directions in terms of thought and behavior. Learning new forms of creativity often enables us to non-verbally express emotions that could be challenging to share any other way. I was fortunate enough to see Derek Hough, a two time Emmy winner, choreographer and dancer in concert. It was an evening of incredible dance and I watched not only the amazing performance on stage but I also watched the audience. When someone on stage leapt, the entire audience seemed to jut their chin forward as if adding their energy to the leap. When a Tango started, people sat up straighter and rolled their shoulders. Many from their seats in the audience were imitating micro movements of the people on stage. We were entranced and even in our microscopic ways, from our seats, we danced along. I've never seen a more happy and energized audience at the end of an evening. Martha Graham, a well known pioneer of choreography, has said that dance is the hidden language of the soul. I believe her. She also said: “There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. ... No artist is pleased. [There is] no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others” ― Martha Graham I believe this applies to all action. Whether you are taking action toward the career of your dreams or an item on your bucket list, you're actions toward these things are uniquely you and therefore not open to comparison. So few in this world take action necessary to get clear about they want and then take concreate steps to attain it. Working with a career/life coach supports you in getting out of your own way and on with taking the actions that create your best life. Live the Life the Your Soul Intended. #dance, #Derek Hough, #Martha Graham, #life coach, #dancing, #Stress, #Anxiety, #move, #movement, #energy, #depression,#InternationalDanceDay  If Joan offered this sage advice in today’s market, she’d also add, ‘and be ready to face the camera.’ The above advice is timeless. You can’t go wrong following it. You also cannot go wrong if you prepare for the likelihood that, in today’s market at least a portion of your interview process will be conducted virtually. Even in this day of Marco Polo and Instagram apps, job candidates are often not well prepared to face an on-screen interviewer. And I don’t just mean the candidates that dress only from the waist up. Inherent in video conference interviews there are several unique concerns. To make a great professional impression, avoid unnecessary stress, and pitfalls, preparation is vital. As a foundation, you'll need to be crystal clear about whether you've preparing for a one way or a two-way interview and if it's timed. A one-way interview is where you’re asked a series of predetermined questions, and you’re allowed to record and submit your response for review. Sometimes you are allowed to redo your answer until you are satisfied with it but often you only get one shot and a finite length of time to answer. A two-way interview is a live interview conducted via Skype or similar technology and attempts to mimic a more traditional in-person interview. Key Tips to Acing a Virtual Interview Tip # 1 Rehearse Practice makes perfect. Be sure to go over any prep materials and sample questions thoroughly. Record yourself speaking into the camera if you have the appropriate technology. Then review what you’ve recorded and tweak your performance or have an interview coach like myself review it for feedback. Tip # 2 Double check your tech. Pay attention to what video service the interviewer will be using. You may have to install new technology before an interview. Be sure to allow plenty of time to both install and test it so you are familiar with anything that may be quirky about it and can handle it calmly. Adjust your lighting and make sure your face is well lit. Use lighting at face height. Too much overhead light causes shadows and makes you appear tired. Tip # 3 Set the stage Clear any clutter from the background. You want a simple setting so the focus is on you not what’s going on behind you. Tip # 4 Dress well from head to toe You won’t be aware if your interviewer is seeing your image, 3 inches high or 3 feet high. Details will matter. Don’t just do your hair and brush your teeth. Floss. Get those stray hairs. Pick out a nice outfit. Don’t be the person who gets caught out because they had to get out of their chair to handle a sudden computer glitch and It's revealed they are wearing pajama bottoms and a suit jacket. Tip # 5 Look at the Camera Eye contact is important. Even when you’re not speaking, it’s essential that you are giving the person (i.e., the camera) your full attention. Resist the natural tendency to look at your own image or even the interviewer's image on the screen. Looking down at your desk, off into the distance when you’re not speaking makes it appear that you’re not listening. This is one of those cases when it’s not rude to stare. Practice this, because if you do it well, you will engage the person on the other side and come across as a savvy professional. Tip # 6 Practice your responses and speak at a steady pace. Especially in one-way interviews where there can be a time-limit you want to make sure you are speaking clearly, slowly and yet concisely. Be aware of how much time you have per question and make sure you get the compelling details in within the time allotted. Some one-way interviews will allow you to re-record an answer until you are happy with it, but a lot do not. Make sure you are clear on what is available in each instance, don’t assume. There will not be an opportunity to have a ‘do over’. Looking Forward. As more jobs become remote video conferencing technology enables recruiters to tap into talent pools worldwide. Convey your potential by learning how to make the best impression virtually so that when they are considering who goes on to the next round, you’re at the top of the list. |
