Type-A “hamster wheel” personality definition:
“A temperament characterized by excessive ambition, aggression, competitiveness, drive, impatience, need for control, focus on quantity over quality and unrealistic sense of urgency. It is commonly associated with risk of coronary disease and other stress-related ailments.”
Basically if we have a Type-A personality we are giving ourselves a heart attack. Perhaps not literally (yet), but the stress of maintaining 200 miles per hour day in and day out can affect our bodies in ways that we are not aware. Maybe we know these A people, maybe we ourselves are an A person. Whether recovering from a Type-A personality or trying to find ways to simply “let go” of stress, here is a one-way ticket from A to Z. Hop on the Z-train with me and see if there's one thing that might help.
Type-Z “Zenitude” definition. (Remember, we are always a work in progress):
Live in the day.
Why? It’s a daily gift. Less stress.
Step off the hamster wheel of life (even if it's only for a moment) and replenish, confidently re-focus on the happiness factor, quality or expansion of life, creation of memories, goals and a patient exploration of personal Zenitude and space. (And move away from those shallow, sissy breaths from the top of your lungs. Expand your lungs - your entire body.)
Why? Surprising, enriching realizations will emerge. Less stress.
Reel in excessive desires to intensely and aggressively control all situations and people. "Your way is not the only way." So, let go.
Why? It's healthier. It attracts versus detracts. Less stress.
Genuinely connect without pretense.
Why? Authentic connection inspires and brings together. Pretense pushes away.
Be a remover. Remove recurring things and people that constantly suck the life out of a room or out of us or view us as irrelevant.
Why? There isn’t room in life for uninvited stress and drama. Walk away. Less stress.
Touch lives with an humble awareness of self and a humble, sensitive mindfulness of others.
Why? It’s benevolent. Long-term, life-time relationships will follow. Less stress.
Find drive in life without driving over others.
Why? Sharing the lanes of life is better than “people road rage.” We don’t “own” the road, we don't "own" someone else's life, we are explorers with others. Drive with a figurative compass that directionally asks -- Are we: Nurturing (N)/Supportive (S)/Encouraging (E)/Welcoming (W)? Less stress.
Zenitude for today:
Step off the hamster wheel of life, gather up your "human" compass, figure some sh*t out and gradually weave together facets of Type-Z.