This week’s feature, “You, Improved,” gathers some excellent pointers from various life-improvement experts. Some of my favorite:
• “Before going into a stressful meeting, take a couple of minutes to breathe and ground yourself. ‘If we can back away for a moment,’ he says, ‘it helps you to know what it feels like to be calm’ so that you can return to that feeling at times when you may be provoked.”
• “If you decide to attend meditation or yoga classes, it’s important to find a teacher you resonate with. So when you start going, shop around until you find someone who makes you feel absolutely comfortable.”
• On defensiveness: “She says it’s hard to ‘own up to something we know we can do better.’ Instead of talking about it, we ‘push it away’ and blame it on others.”
• “Move disorganized items into a clutter-free space. Sort them out there, then put them back. Oftentimes you’ll think more clearly in a clean area.”