The notion of changing your physical body to change your states is nothing new. All the gurus who teach yoga, meditation, qi gong and tai chi are masters at changing the physical body to effect a complete change of state… from a stressed, tense state to one of complete relaxation and ‘stillness’. All this is of course taught consciously and the health benefits are enormous.
But many people, unfortunately, use external stimuli to change their physical bodies and their states, which is generally not at all good for them in the long term. For example, people use junk food, coffee, drugs, alcohol or cigarettes, all of which alter their biochemistry and change how they feel temporarily. (Unfortunately the negative effects of such addictive foods and drugs on their physical body is long term.)
Some people I know smoke to change their states, especially to calm their nerves from stress and anxiety. Well, why does smoking change your state? It is not so much the chemicals that do the job. Rather, it is the fact that by inhaling, you are taking deep slow breaths. And that is why you feel calmer and more relaxed. Next time, save money, just puff deeply on a pen. I bet you will get the same effects.
A strategy some people use to change their states, which is rather useful and beneficial, is to exercise. I am sure you have experienced a time when you felt frustrated, depressed or stressed. When you went out for a run or a game of tennis, what happened? You immediately forgot you were depressed! That is because exercising massively changes your entire physiology: the brain cannot access the depressed state any more.
But what happened when you stopped exercising? You gradually got depressed again, didn’t you? However, this means that you do have the ability to shift completely out of negative states in an instant, you just need to take control over it. And
141 THE SECRET TO PEAK PERFORMANCE
you don’t need external devices to change your states, you can do it by consciously taking charge of your physiology.
Exercise 2
Experiencing a Change in State
Now, I want you to experience how powerful a state change can be. Get back into your bored and tired state by putting yourself in a bored and tired physiology. The moment you feel that you’re in this lousy state, I want you to clap your hands and change your entire physiology! Get into the new physiology of energy and excitement!
Test this out now!
Did you feel the state change? I am sure you did. This means that anytime you need to get into a more resourceful state, you can consciously change your physiology and your state will change. The more you do this, the more natural it will become. Now, unless you totally change your physiology, it is impossible for you to change your state, In other words, if you remain in a physiology of procrastination, it is not possible for you to feel motivated! That is why I find it ironic when people tell me that no matter what they do, they cannot seem to get motivated. It is because they say it (unconsciously) with the most bored physiology and tonality possible. First thing I say is, ‘Change your physiology! Move faster! Breathe faster! Speak louder, faster and with more enthusiasm!’
Eyes Breathing Voice Tone Muscle tension
Facial expression Mouth closed, narrow, droopy Relaxed, tension in neck Low volume, low pitch, slow Looking down, defocused Shallow and slow Back slouched
Mouth wider, tension in cheeks Tension in hands & shoulders Louder, faster, higher pitch Looking up, eyes wide, focused Faster and deeper
Body upright
Shoulders slouched, head down Shoulders back, head up
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Exercise 3
Get into the State of Being Totally Depressed
Let’s do this really simple experiment. I want you to get into the physiology of being totally depressed. How would you sit if you were totally depressed? Breathe the way you would breathe. Have a look of total depression on your face.
Now, without changing any part of your physiology, I want you to try to feel happy. Remaining in a totally depressed physiology, try to get into a happy state. Can you? No. It’s impossible. This is so obvious that it sounds ridiculous. But in reality, we complain of not being able to get motivated, confident and relaxed when we keep putting our physiology in a totally collapsed posture.
Please bear in mind that once you know how to manage your states, it doesn’t mean that external events can never affect you. It doesn’t mean that you will never get upset or lazy anymore! I still have my fair share of lazy states that I get into. The only difference is that now you can choose to be in control and begin to shift yourself into a more resourceful state, as and when you need to bring out the best out in yourself.