How to massage almonds and other critical Covid skills part two

This is part two of “How to massage almonds and other critical Covid Skills.” Keep reading to figure out what the heck I’m talking about.

Repeat after me … amygdala (uh·mig·duh·luh).  You now know how to say the word ‘almond’ in Greek.  Which is a critical skill for managing yourself and your team during Covid.

Last week, I wrote about how massaging your and your team’s almonds or amygdalas is critical to stop your brain, during times of Covid, from deluding you into believing there is only one choice of action amongst three options: Fight, Freeze or Flee.

I shared four ways of massaging those good ol’ amygdalas.  Today I’ll share another one via the fabulous Anne Lamott.

Keeping your amygdalas or almonds happy leads to better functioning, better retention, and better learning.

Almond “massaging” isn’t just a nice-to-have.  File almond massaging under a must-have.

But I get it.  You’re likely struggling with your amygdala right now.  You’ve got a lot of plates spinning, time is tight and your gargantuan to-do list is tugging on your brain.

That’s why this sweet post by Anne Lamott about something her grandson’s class does every week caught my attention.  Easy peasy, nice and breezy.

Massaging almonds doesn’t have to be and, in fact, shouldn’t be hard.  Try this sweet technique – ketchup, mustard, and relish – at your next team meeting.

Have each person talk about three things:

• Ketchup: Things that they may be a bit behind on.  This helps acknowledge everyone’s full plate and gets overwhelm out into the open to deal with. 

• Mustard: These are things that are top priority and need to get done this coming week.

• And relish: Share “something that you loved doing, something fun or silly, or any activity that brought you pleasure.”

“Relish, joy, and pleasure are one solution to exhaustion. So is a walk around the neighborhood, noticing that the daffodils are blooming-+such reliable sight gags with those clown frills and huge schnozzes. Paying deeper attention paradoxically relieves exhaustion, because it awakens us. It makes us laugh. Laughter is a battery charge.” Anne Lamott

Now go on and learn, laugh and lead

• How to relate almond massaging to improve your learning culture.

Laugh

• Here’s what a fully massaged amygdala looks like.  Hello sweet little relaxed bird.

Lead

• Try your hand at almond massaging using the ketchup, relish and mustard technique at your next team gathering.

P.S. I just launched the online version of my Life Lenses® online assessment – which clients from all over the world have benefited from, including many UN agencies.  Check it out for outta sight insight!