Hour of the Wolf
Donna Serdula
RISE UP! Your Brand Matters ? Founder/President at Vision Board Media ?? FOR DUMMIES Author ?? Speaker ?? Podcast Host & Guest ?? Empowering People to Take Control of their Careers & Narrative
"The hour between night and dawn. The hour when most people die, when sleep is deepest, when nightmares are most real. It is the hour when the sleepless are haunted by their deepest fears, when ghost and demons are most powerful, the hour of the wolf is also the hour when most children are born." -From Ingmar Bergman's Film HOUR OF THE WOLF (Trailer).
It's that moment from out of deep sleep, your eyes open wide, and anxiety and dread consume you. It occurs at 3 AM when everything is silent... except for your heart pounding.
It happens to me. Does it happen to you?
Last night, I decided to do something and I reached for my mobile phone and scrolled through my LinkedIn Feed, trying to take my mind off the wolf. I found an article that was clearly meant for me to read: A science-backed trick to reduce fear and anxiety takes just 30 seconds and a pen by Corinne Purtill.
"The next time painful or stressful feelings threaten to overwhelm you, here is what you do: get something to write with. Get something to write on. Write down a word that describes the emotion you’re experiencing. It doesn’t have to be comprehensive. Just a word or two will do...The act of naming one’s emotional state—helps to blunt the immediate impact of negative feelings and kickstart the process of climbing back down from stress."
And I did just that: I grabbed a pen and paper and jotted down the issues that were running amuck in my brain. Almost instantly I felt better.
I recommend trying it-- not just during the Hour of the Wolf but whenever you find yourself in a moment of stress and anxiety.
Describe it: Are you scared? Worried? Is it regret? Are you angry? Disappointed? Disgusted? Embarrassed? Do you feel guilty? Irritated? Are you thinking about your future? Your health? Your job? Your spouse? Your kids? Your home? Your bank account? Is it the fear of the unknown? Is it a fear of change or lack of control?
Whatever it is plaguing you, jot it down.
Pain, discomfort, anxiety, are all parts of the human experience and what you are feeling is normal and universal.
I felt better and fell back to sleep.
Every day a little wiser...
?? Giving you Credibility, Poise, and Executive Presence ??
5 年That is the WORST hour.? Your fears and anxieties are always amplified during that time.? If I'm going to have a poor night's sleep it's because I woke up at that time.
Certified Chief Digital Officer(ISB) | Digital Transformation Expert | CIO | Operational Excellence & Innovation | Seasoned Pre-Sales, Program & Delivery Leader| GCC Build-Nurture |IIM-A, ISB(Alumni)
5 年I am amazed at the significance of this hour.... a phenomenon that people could relate with. Thanks
Senior Accountant Dedicated to Streamlining Financial Processes for Increased Efficiency and Accuracy ???? Seeking a Senior Accountant / Assistant Controller role in Chesco, Montco, or Delco, PA.
6 年Job transition is a sure trigger of anxiety, especially at night, which then can trigger insomnia. Anxiety is the devil. Listening to calming music at a low level helps. I use Sleep Sounds by Relaxio (free).? You can pick a listed sleep sound, add or remove other sounds, set a timer, control volume of each sound or the overall sound.? Also I feel that writing down tasks, goals, etc on paper, word, or excel is very helpful and makes me feel organized. Once, I start crossing off completed items, I feel even better! When you are overwhelmed..use lists, lists, lists!?
A lifelong student and mentor of professional relationships and networking | Avid connector of great people | Entrepreneur | Speaker, author, podcaster
7 年This article made me reflect back on a book I am reading ... Thinking, Fast & Slow (Daniel Kahneman). What you report is not a trick ... but merely moving your brain's activity from the more emotional centers to the thinking part of the brain. Good work!
Customer Service | Sales Specialist | Sales Leader & Customer Relationship Manager, revolutionizing Leadership & Service through Team Building, Leadership, & Problem Solving
7 年Thank you Donna.