Smiling Improves Health & Life

Want a quick easy way to a healthy, joy “buzz?” Try smiling. The research is there. When we smile we create the biochemical neurotransmitters, Serotonin and Endorphins that trigger feelings of happiness and well being. Recent studies suggest that our emotions are reinforced, maybe even created by facial expressions. Smiling is another great example of the Mind/Body/Spirit connection.

Smiling boost our levels of Serotonin, a neurotransmitter, which regulates our moods, sleep, sexuality, appetite, and happiness. The interactive chemical feedback goes both ways. A good mood, restful sleep, good sex and good food create the smiles that keep the Serotonin pumping, and the Serotonin creates our good mood feelings.

Smiling releases Endorphins, neurotransmitters, which are known as the body’s natural painkillers. Endorphins are released during laughing, exercise, frequent sex, eating chocolate, sunbathing, massages, meditation, dancing, singing and listening to music. The more endorphins circulating in the body the more effectively you fight off symptoms of illness.

Research has shown smiling positively affects our:

Immune strength

Sense of well-being and positive outlook

Blood Pressure

Balance

Self-control

Resilience against stress

Charles Darwin, in 1872, posed the idea that emotional responses influence our feelings. Darwin wrote, “The free expression by outward signs of an emotion intensi­fies it.” William James, 19^th-cen­tury psychologist, stated that if a person does not express an emotion, he has not felt it at all. Current research suggests emotions involve more than just the brain (Mind). The face (Body), in particular, appears to plays a big role.

Psychologists, University of Cardiff in Wales, found individuals with impaired ability to frown; due to cosmetic botox inject­ions are generally happier, than those who can frown. Study co-author Michael Lewis reported, “It would appear that the way we feel emotions isn’t just restricted to our brain—there are parts of our bodies that help and reinforce the feelings we’re having…It’s like a feedback loop.” According to a study published in the Journal of Pain (May 2008), people who frown during an unpleasant procedure report feeling more pain than those who do not. Researcher Lewis states, “Smiling has widespread mental and physical health benefits. More than merely an automatic expression of friendliness, politeness or a good mood, smiling also influences our brain chemistry, triggering feelings of happiness and pleasure. Even if we feel quite miserable, we can give ourselves a real boost by smiling. Simply changing our facial expression can improve how we see ourselves, and the world.”

Although serotonin acts as a natural anti-depressant, does reshaping our mouth from a frown to a smile create a shift in our sense of well-being from negative to positive? Guillaume Duchenne, a pioneering researcher of smiles found that not all smiles are created equal.

Every culture worldwide recognizes a smile but the “Duchenne smile” has been proven by science to confer the most powerful, immediate benefits. Guillaume Duchenne, a 19^th century French physician, acknowledged as one of the founders of modern neurology, discovered a linking brain function to muscle control and spent years researching the countless emotional secrets of facial expressions in particular smiles.

The Duchenne smile is defined by the exact muscles involved in creating it and by identifying the health benefits it confers. He stated smiles involving the orbicularis oculi muscles (the muscles that pull your eyes into a squint, making for wrinkles at the bridge of the nose and around the eyes’ outside edges) were authentic expressions of joy.

Benefits of Smiling:

• Boosts Your Immune System
• Relieves Stress
• Lowers Your Blood Pressure
• Releases Endorphins, Natural Pain Killers and Serotonin
• Makes Us Attractive
• Is Contagious
• Lifts the Face and Makes You Look Younger
• Makes You Seem Successful
• Helps You Stay Positive

The Mind/Body/Spirit connection leads us to know that life is interactive not just within Self, but between oneself and others. Each day we have an opportunity to be healers. We can diminish our own stress---but more than that a contagious smile can diminish the stress of the person sitting next to you. A smile conveys hope. I always told my remedial reading students, with a smile on my face---You can learn this. And they did.

To live a healthy, empowered life remember the benefits of smiling: 1.) There is an automatic attraction to people who smile (be on the look out for smiles in return), 2.) When you are not feeling well smiling releases “happy neurotransmitters and natural pain killers” there is a chance you will improve your attitude and change the way you are feel, 3.) Others will want to be with you (we can feel when others genuinely want to be with us), 4.) You will be helping others feel good (How many children could be saved from drug/alcohol addiction if their parents really smiled at them?), 5.) Smiling helps us look better, less tired, less worn down, less stressed (“dress for success” includes your smile), 6.) Stimulates your immune response by helping you relax, and 7.) There is evidence that your blood pressure can decrease by smiling (who wants to take liver damaging medication if smiling and a few lifestyle changes can manage the problem?).

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/isnt-what-i-expected/201207/try-some-smile-therapy

http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelongbeauty/tp/smiling.htm

http://www.printfriendly.com/print?url=http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/duchenne-smile-benefits/

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/smile-it-could-make-you-happier/

http://odyb.net/discoveries/little-known-reasons-and-benefits-of-smiling/

Healing Power of Creativity

Creative thinking solves problems as an expression of Mind, but also as an expression of Spirit and the emotions. The creativity of the Mind and Spirit can heal the Body. Many hypnosis techniques are based on the creative aspect of Mind and Spirit to heal the Body.

A key concept in achieving vitality and well-being is to realize Life is an act of creation. We are the creators of our own lives. Every aspect of life is important and sacred and we are meant to master it all.

At times life tasks seem overwhelming. Each job is a microcosm of another. Whether you are a national president, state governor, city mayor, school principal, or a mom with children, you share the same basic tasks. You are responsible for housing, feeding, health, safety, transportation, and problem solving.

In Creativity - Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, describes two types of creative people. The word creativity refers to

“1. Persons who express unusual thoughts, who are interesting and stimulating - in short, people who appear unusually bright, or 2. People who experience the world in novel and original ways. These are (personally creative) individuals whose perceptions are fresh, whose judgments are insightful, who may make important discoveries that only they know about.” (Pages 25-26)

“Characteristics of the creative personality:

• Creative individuals tend to be smart, yet also naive at the same time.
• Creative individuals have a great deal of energy, but they are also often quiet and at rest.
• Creative individuals have a combination of playfulness and discipline, or responsibility and irresponsibility.
• Creative individuals alternate between imagination and fantasy at one end, and rooted sense of reality at the other.
• Creative people seem to harbor opposite tendencies on the continuum between extroversion and introversion.
• Creative individuals are also remarkable humble and proud at the same time.
• Creative individuals to a certain extent escape rigid gender role stereotyping and have a tendency toward androgyny.
• Generally, creative people are thought to be rebellious and independent.
• Most creative persons are very passionate about their work, yet they can be extremely objective about it as well.
•    The openness and sensitivity of creative individuals often exposes them to suffering pain yet also a great deal of enjoyment.” (Csikszentmihalyi, pages 58-73)

It is important to honor and respect the creative aspect of self and your unique individuality. In certain cultures and societies, roles and expected, acceptable behaviors are rigidly defined. This is a sad occurrence by my thinking as rigidity strangles creativity, innovation, beauty and well-being. While other cultures, such as the Hindu yoga practitioner, embrace the empowering energy of creativity:

Yoga postures, breathing and meditation can create a positive energy that energizes creativity and motivation. As the breath, body, mind and Spirit come into balance so do our ideas and thinking. Meditation clears the mind of chatter, and the flow of prana (life energy) increases causing thinking to become easier and focused. 

There are many yoga postures and meditations that help remove mental or emotional blockages that stifle inspiration and creativity. Yoga meditations create a state of awareness, which opens us up to unknown possibilities and answers residing in the subconscious Mind.

I believe meditation is an effective tool for, 1.) Opening one’s self to creativity, 2.) Developing creativity, and 3.) Finding hidden aspects of mind where creative answers rest waiting to be discovered. I identify with the following statement as the writer describes his creative insecurity. If you are struggling with your creative nature his blog can be inspirational.

“I’ve always had an extremely powerful imagination and regularly come up with great ideas. You probably know how that feels. You may also have experienced the judgmental attitude that limited me for a long time. I used to come up with ideas all the time, but a lack of self-confidence and an overly analytical nature led me to pooh-pooh my idea before I’d even begun to create them. So it was that minute after minute, I’d come up with a new idea, decide it wasn’t good enough and doing nothing with it. This went on for a long time, thousands of ideas, no results. Then, years ago, I started meditating. Meditating put me more in the present moment, such that, the moment I came up with a new idea I would start to create it.” http://thedailymeditation.com/meditation-for-creativity/

To put my belief in the creative energy of meditation to the test, I created a meditation challenge for myself. My goal became to meditate and find stories hidden in my Mind, and not to actively create the story as I do writing this article. I would meditate and allow the story to tell itself and I would write it down without judgment. To get the conscious mind to step back and be passive was a discipline, yet I was amazed by the stories that were resting in my subconscious Mind.

These are my basic assumptions:

1.     Mind’s purpose is to creatively construct and enhance one’s life and well-being

2.     Mind has many layers (conscious, unconscious, pre-conscious, subconscious, etc.)  

3.     Mind is not limited to the brain but interfaces with the body

4.     Mind is energy storage and like a computer is constantly processing  

I am influenced by the theories of Carl Jung, and the writings of the anthropologist Joseph Campbell. The central idea of their work is that all humans share the same life experiences and each person is the hero of his own story. The following story was found in my Mind through the process of meditation. I can read the story as a metaphor for my life. At times in my life I am the bear, at other times I am the flower.

The Bear’s Story

There was a Bear. He was large, golden-brown and shaggy. There was kindness in his eyes. This bear had a very sad and lonely history. He loved the Earth Mother desperately but he felt jilted by her. She had taken another lover.

The Bear went off into the woods to live alone. The wood was dark and dank. The light there was an emerald green, which gave the place and you really feel.

He had wanted so desperately to live his life with the Earth Mother that he had never conceived of life with out her. His plans for a home and children were now gone. He did not hate the Earth Mother or her lover for he was an honorable bear. His love for her transcended the moment and he wished her joy and life.

But now he was here alone sitting on a hollow log. Not even honey helped. He was at a loss as to what to do. The purpose and productivity of his life had been based on his desire to care for the Earth Mother, building her a home, and establishing a family. He sat for a long time meditating on a yellow Flower. The Flower did nothing but follow the sun with its face. “What a pointless thing to do,” thought the bear.  He became bored and fell asleep.

His huge bear body began to cast a shadow on the Flower, blocking the golden-yellow rays of the sun.

“Wake up! Wake up!”

Bear heard the urgent small voice. He turned his head left, then right and looked all around him. But he saw no one and nothing seemed amiss. He yawned a huge bear yawn and stretched out his mighty arms. He enjoyed feeling the strength and power of his own being.

“You block the sun! You block the sun! Have you no concern for others?” said the small voice.

"What others?" exclaimed the Bear quite taken aback.

“I am living my life and I die in your shadow with out the sun,” said the Flower.

Bear said, “What is it that you do that is so important to life? I was to be the mate of the Earth Mother, her protector, and father to earth children. That is a destiny worth having. But now, I am jilted with no purpose and no children.”

“Indeed that is a sad story,” said the flower. “But my contribution continues for inside of me I hold the essence of life, mine and yours.”

“What do you mean by that,” demanded Bear. “My power is greater than yours. With a swipe of my hand I could tear you from the ground where you stand. You would be no more.”

The Flower said,  “My friends would mourn my passing, and their lives would be diminished for our lifeblood is the pollen we pass the between us. The death of me is the death of my seed yet unborn. The death of the Flower is the death of the Bee for do we not share the sweet nectar of life with our brother the Bee. And will not the Bee die with my passing. And is not the quality of your life brother Bear diminished with the passing of the Bee. Does not the Bee in his generosity make an over abundance of honey for he knows it is sweet nectar of life to the Bear?”

“Everything you have said is so,” said the Bear. “I did not think. The dark emotion of the moment had blinded me to the rays of the sun. The truth is, the sweetest nectar of life and my destiny have only begun. I shall follow your example, meditating on the sun and honoring the cooperation of my brother beings.”

* * *

The process of meditating and then writing allows us to tap into creative aspects of Self that tend to remain hidden. These aspects of Self work for our healing, Mind/Body/Spirit, and well-being at deep levels of Mind. If a story seems to be to big of a goal, start with a poem, or write simple phrases (even single words) that emerge from your mind. If you are not a word person draw, paint, or make a collage from magazine pictures. "The journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one's feet." Lao-tzu

http://www.zenworlds.com/inspire-creativity-meditation

http://www.csun.edu/~vcpsy00h/creativity/define.htm

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5032/6-Yoga-Poses-to-Boost-Creativity-Inspire-You.html

http://thewritersjourney.com/hero%27s_journey.htm

Exhausted For No Reason: Adrenal Fatigue

Adrenal fatigue occurs when pronged stress “fight or flight” reaction has dissipated the hormones that initiate the body’s response behavior—the fight or the flight behavior. Not only do we have “life threatening” stresses in our lives from war (the threat of war), famine, reckless vehicle drivers, chronic diseases, raising crime rates, emotional or physically abuse relationships. But we can be affected by constant low level stress arising from joblessness, dysfunctional work environments, and economic insecurity, as well as our personal psychology and world-view.

Stress and stress levels are unique to the person mind, body and spirit. Individual functioning should be respected not denigrated. Self-acceptance is a key step to wellness. Denying stress keeps you from putting in place a plan to support adrenal gland health.

Typical symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue:

• Feeling tired for no reason
• Trouble getting up in the morning, even when you go to bed at a reasonable hour.
• Feeling rundown or overwhelmed.
• Difficulty bouncing back from stress or illness
• Craving salty and sweet snacks.
• Feeling more awake, alert and energetic after 6PM than you do all day

The adrenal glands are located above the kidneys. The adrenals synthesize the hormones corticosteroids, catecholamines, cortisol and adrenaline and regulate the body’s stress response. Hormones are chemical messengers that initiate a biologic response. Adrenal glands create the body’s “fight or flight” hormonal resources by instantly increasing heart rate and blood pressure, releasing energy stores for immediate use, slows your digestion and other secondary functions, and sharpens your senses.

Healthy adrenal glands keep cortisol hormones at a level appropriate to optimal health. Normal levels of cortisol are essential to the body’s adequate response to stress and to support a healthy immune response. A balanced cortisol level is essential to life and affects every tissue, organ and gland in the body. Cortisol is essential for balancing stress hormones and curbing inflammation.

Adrenal fatigue occurs when high amounts of cortisol are produced to counter the effects of stress on the body. Severe and prolonged stress may be caused by physical stress from infection, illness, or disease and/or emotional stress. The adrenals can become exhausted from the constant demand for more cortisol when the body is in a constant state of stress, and may stop producing adequate amounts. Stressors add up each contributing to the body’s inability to meet its cortisol needs, further weakening the adrenals.

Adrenal fatigue may result from chronic recurrent infections, which weaken the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to additional infections and physical stress. Chronic underproduction of cortisol and adrenal fatigue syndrome can also be caused or aggravated by the ongoing use of corticosteroids. Often Allopathic Medicine treats disease symptoms using synthetic hormones like prednisone. These synthetic hormones are often prescribed for many illnesses in dosages that far exceed the amount of cortisol the body requires. This is a serious concern as heightened levels of cortisol can shut the adrenal glands down, suppress the immune system, and in some cases bring on psychotic-type behavior.

Life Style Indicators of Adrenal Fatigue

What is your energy level?  Exhaustion for no apparent reason, meaning there has been no prolonged physical exertion, and you are exhausted and tired and when waking up. You may experience extreme fatigue in the afternoon typically between 3 and 5 PM.


Do you struggle to get through the day but have a burst of energy around 6-8pm? Is it easy to stay up beyond midnight regardless of when you woke up? 


Is your thinking is unfocused and unclear? You have difficulty processing simple information that you didn't have problems with before. You may have difficulty with information recall and short-term memory, or lose your thought in the middle of a conversation.

Are you more susceptible to stress? Does most benign stress, such as a minor traffic jam, or stubbing one's toe cause you excessive frustration and stress levels to go up? Is your stress response high than need be for the situation? Do you experience “road rage” or over react to minor offenses?

Do you recall feeling more nervous and anxious recently?  Stress hormones circulating in the body create a feeling of anxiety. Your hands may be jittery when you are nervous or under pressure. 



Individuals with adrenal fatigue syndrome put on weight inexplicably. Weight gain is generally distributed around the midsection creating a thick layer of belly fat. There is an inability to lose weight, despite dieting. Restrictive diets and heavy exercise are countering productive and put the body in further stress exacerbating the adrenal fatigue and weight problem.

Changes in appetite and or food cravings? The brain will try to use food to medicate itself and fix exhaustion with sugar or salty, starchy foods. Do you depend on caffeine (coffee, caffeinated drinks) to help pep you up? 
 

Adrenal fatigue syndrome affects digestion and elimination creating an alternating pattern between diarrhea and constipation. 



Women may experience intensified premenstrual symptoms including very painful menstrual cramps. Women with adrenal fatigue may demonstrate an interrupted menstrual cycle that is heavy for the first few days, stops on the fourth day, and resumes on the fifth day. 



Other physical symptoms include heart palpitations, low blood sugar levels, unexplained hair loss, dry skin, low blood pressure, low body temperature, and mild depression.

Diminished sex drive. Because the body’s hormones are synergistic and interactive across body systems Adrenal Fatigue can depress or cause complete loss of libido.

As adrenal function decreases every organ and system in your body is adversely affected. Carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, fluid and electrolyte balance, heart and cardiovascular system, and even sex drive are affected. Alterations take place at the biochemical and cellular levels in response to and to compensate for the decreased adrenal hormonal production that results from adrenal fatigue.

Life Style Changes to Support Adrenal Functioning 

• Laugh as often
• Take small breaks from stressful activity to lie down
•  Purposefully increase/promote stress relieving activities such as yoga, meditation, and prayer.
• Always eat breakfast before 10 am
•  Start the habit of eating 5-6 frequent small meals rather than 3 large meals.
• Set an early bedtime, 10 pm is ideal.
• Sleep in until 9 AM when possible.
• Consider having “silver” (mercury amalgam) fillings removed. Exposure to mercury (a neurotoxin) damages neurotransmitters and causes of Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome

Dietary recommendations for Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome include

Add to Your Life:

• Ground flax meal (healthy dietary fiber and omega-3 essential fatty acids)
• Extra virgin organic coconut oil
• Omega-3, essential fatty acids (wild caught fish oil, sprouted walnuts)
• Mineralized salt (Himalayan crystal salt)
•  Eat lightly cooked animal and vegetable proteins (meat, fish, poultry, eggs, legumes)
• Dairy products with live, organic, active cultures (probiotics, yogurt and kefir)
•  Unrefined low-glycemic carbohydrates (brown rice, sprouted grains, winter squash)
• Limit intake of high glycemic index fruits (apricots, raisins, banana, papaya, and mango)
• Vegetables and vegetable juices (kelp, sprouts, green and black olives, peppers, spinach, chard, celery, zucchini).
• Unprocessed nutrient dense foods such as sprouted nuts and seeds to your diet.
• Drink purified water throughout the day
• Magnesium supports adrenal health.
• Vitamin C protects the body from excess stress.
• Vitamin B Complex is, balanced B formula, maintains the energy of the adrenals
• 
  
• As you create and work toward a wellness lifestyle, and as you support  adrenal gland functioning, you will need to consider what you will keep in your life style, and which behaviors need to be added or eliminated. Over time you may decide to eliminate or avoid many of the following:

 Refined sugar or artificial sugar-substitutes such as aspartame, Splenda®. (If you must use natural unrefined sugar, honey, molasses, and stevia)

 Simple or refined carbohydrates (white bread, pasta, cookies, cakes, crackers, etc.)

Potassium rich foods, which add to adrenal stress (bananas, all melons, dried figs, raisins, dates, oranges, grapefruit, etc.)

Excessive disrupts the body’s systems, causing insomnia and irregularity (constipation or diarrhea); although moderate amounts of caffeine may be beneficial,

Alcoholic beverages in excess since they hinder the functioning of the immune and energy production systems

Fermented foods such as cheese and wine

Fungi such as mushrooms

 Pickled foods

  Sweetened fruit juices that spike blood sugar levels too rapidly

Carbonated soft drinks that alter pH levels, making the blood more acidic

 Bottom crawlers such as oysters, clams, and lobster that may contain toxic levels of mercury

Deep-sea fish such as tuna, mackerel, and swordfish that may contain toxic levels of mercury. 

Yeast and wheat products (breads, crackers, pasta, etc.) that contain gluten

Sodium nitrite found in processed foods such as hot dogs, lunch meats, and bacon

 Monosodium glutamate (MSG) found in many foods as a flavor enhancer

  Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fats found in many processed foods, deep-fried food, fast food, and junk food.

Typically, individuals with adrenal fatiguefunction better wth fewer carbohydrates and need more protein.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4677985_recognize-symptoms-adrenal-fatigue-syndrome.html

http://naturopathconnect.com/articles/adrenal-fatigue-syndrome/

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/adrenal-fatigue-is-it-real

http://www.adrenalfatigue.org/what-is-adrenal-fatigue

Mind/Body/Spirit Well-Being: Self-acceptance

Self-acceptance is a key construct to Mind/Body/Spirit well being. How do you approach life? Each of us is created with a valid, honorable personality. Making the most of our abilities creates a path of personal success. Success is meeting your own potential.

Understanding your personal thinking style can change your life. Have you found yourself in a group where your ideas and methods were discounted, or ignored? This causes personal stress and friction in the work group.

Each of us has a preferred thinking style that organizes how we interact with information, learn, and act in problem solving work groups. Educators and psychologists use concepts of thinking style to design lessons and understand human behavior. 

The theoretical model created by Anthony Gregorc is useful for understanding our different ways of thinking and is described in his book An Adult's Guide To Style.

According to Gregorc, there are two main preferred types--Perceptual (abstract vs. concrete thought) and Ordering (sequential vs. random thought). Perceptual thinking style describes a preferred way of working with information.

Although we have a preferred “a thinking style”, we are able to understand and use other approaches. When we become overly committed to one style, the “one and only perfect way,” we develop rigid thinking patterns. Being able to choose a mind style that suits the task creates efficient, effective learners and workers.

Value judgments should not be placed on one’s preferred thinking style as representing high or low intelligence, or naiveté/sophistication. The inherent characteristics of Perceptual and Ordering abilities should be flexible to the study or task to be efficient practical.

What is your Perceptual Thinking Style? Concrete, or Abstract

A Concrete Approach is a preference for taking in information directly through the five senses: sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing. A concrete approach is working with the obvious, the “here and now, or what is.” The concrete person is not looking for hidden meanings and does not see relationships between ideas or concepts. For example, the occupation of financial accounting typically takes a Concrete Approach.

Those with a natural strength in the concrete style will communicate in a direct, literal, no-nonsense manner.  (Examples for US TV watchers. There is a range from Forest Gump to Temperance Brennan “Bones”)

An Abstract Approach is to visualize, creating ideas, to understand, or imagine that which cannot actually be seen. When you use the abstract quality to work, you use intuition, imagination, and look beyond “what is” to the more subtle implications.

For example the occupations of novelist, or researcher, take an Abstract Approach. The person whose natural strength is the abstract style may use more subtle ways to get a point across. (If this quote has meaning to you, you are thinking abstractly. “The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.” ― William Blake)

Work and learning tasks often require us to shift back and forth from abstract to concrete. Although we have both concrete and abstract perceptual abilities to some extent, each person typically has a preferred style. Some of us shift between thinking styles more easily. My hypothesis is that thinking style reflects our biochemistry as well as one’s genetic code---wow, interesting research topic!

What is your Ordering Ability preference? Sequential, or Random

Ordering Ability is how you organize information. A sequential approach allows the mind to organize information in a linear, step-by-step manner, as if following a set of directions, a computer application, or a recipe.

A sequential approach is to follow the model, a logical train of thought, or a traditional approach. You may prefer to follow a plan, rather than relying on impulse. When I plan a vacation I have a step by step plan as I do not like to get lost, or waste time in a an unknown city.

Random approach, ordering ability, lets the mind organize information by chunks, and in no particular order. Random thinking often allows us to skip steps in a procedure and still produce the desired result. We may even start in the middle, or at the end, and work backwards. Random thinkers may prefer life to be more impulsive or spur of the moment rather than planned.

Thinking Style Characteristics

Concrete Sequential worker/learner

• Likes order, logical sequence, following directions, predictability, and working with facts
• Learns best in a structured environment, where they can rely on others to complete this task, situations are predictable situations, and ideas have practical use
• Has stress and difficulty working in groups and with unpredictable people

The concrete thinker is stressed when discussions have no specific point, in an unorganized work environment, and when following incomplete or unclear directions.  Dealing with abstract ideas, being asked to "use your imagination," and questions with no right or wrong answers are difficult and stressful for those with a concrete thinking preference. Concrete-sequential individuals are very stressed when things are not conventionally correct, or when others are too emotional, or too academic.

Abstract Sequential worker/learner

·      Likes for his/her point to be heard, analyzing situations before making a decision or acting, or applying logic when solving or finding solutions to problems

·      Works best when they have access to experts or references, prefer stimulating environments, and are able to work alone. They are

·      Has stress when working with multiple differing views, if there is too little time to work thoroughly, by repeating the same tasks over and over, and when boxed in by lots of specific rules and regulations.

Abstract Sequential people are stressed by "sentimental" thinking, by being asked to express their emotions, or by being diplomatic when convincing others. The abstract-sequential person may have a tendency to monopolizing a conversation.

Concrete Random worker/learner

• Likes experimenting to find answers, taking risks, using their intuition, and solving problems independently
• Learns best when able to use trial-and-error approaches, to compete with others, when given the opportunity to work through the problems by themselves
• Is stressed by restrictions and limitations, formal reports, routines, re-doing anything once it is done, keeping detailed records, showing how they got an answer, choosing only one answer, and having no options.

The Concrete Random individual finds it difficult to work with fuzzy headed thinking, being told to seek hard data, and working with those unwilling to consider various options.

Abstract Random worker/learner

• Likes to listen to others, bring harmony to group situations, establishing healthy relationships with others, and focusing on the issues at hand. They
• Learns best in a personalized environment, when given broad or general guidelines, able to maintain friendly relationships, able to participate in group activities
• Stressed when to explain or justify feelings, competition, working with dictatorial/authoritarian personalities, a restrictive environment, emotionally cold environment, concentrating on one thing at a time, giving exact details, negative or positive criticism.

Abstract/Random individuals are stressed by being told to be realistic, working in restrictive environments, and dealing with non-caring unemotional people.

How to Use this Information to De-Stress

1. Understand and accept your style and abilities
2. Understand and accept your spouse, children, family, friends, coworkers
3. Build on strengths (you can’t change your preferred abilities but you can consciously develop new abilities)
4. Honor what you like
5. Honor how you learn
6. Honor what creates stress in you
7. Know that your preferred style and abilities are most efficient, but you can train yourself to use other thinking styles for specific tasks (flexible thinking)
8. Choose a career that is consistent with your thinking style and life will be less stressful
9. Give yourself permission “to be” yourself
10. Choose work environments consistent with your thinking style and ordering ability (there is a right place for every one) 

http://www.ehow.com/about_5449795_anthony-gregorc-learning-styles.html#ixzz2wAYQZDS5

http://www.aspminds.com/abstractthinking.html

http://sciencehouse.wordpress.com/2012/08/01/is-abstract-thinking-necessary/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piaget's_theory_of_cognitive_development

http://www.projectlearnet.org/tutorials/concrete_vs_abstract_thinking.html

http://philosophy.about.com/od/Major-Philosophers/