From the Publisher: An Acronym We SHALT Remember

An Acronym We SHALT Remember

By Dr. Ryan T. Sauers

@RyanSauers @RyanTSauers

Most people are very much the same. We all eat and drink. We all sleep. We all live and die. We all seek to be loved. And we all have different emotions. It is what makes us human. What we have in common (UNITE) is far greater than anything that makes us different (UNTIE). With that said, I want to focus on an idea from a book by Laurie Jones. It is the word/acronym SHALT. SHALT stands for Sad, Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired.

How many times have you said something or written something you later regretted? How often have you acted in an “out of character” manner and wished you could get a “do-over”? If you are like me, you have done so, and this information should prove helpful.

If you are sad, it is best to postpone a decision until you are in the right frame of mind. You will be glad you did. Second, many of us get grumpy when we are hungry. So, if you have not eaten, wait until you are no longer hungry and you will think more clearly and communicate more effectively.

How about when we are angry? In social media, it is easy to fire C off a tweet, post, text, or email in seconds. You know the drill – when Msomeone makes you mad, blast them right then for the whole world to see. Of course, this is not the best thing to do. Like sadness, anger Y is an emotion that will settle itself in time. And you should wait until CM that emotion is gone so you calmly respond to what you are facing. In youth sports, there is often a 24-hour rule after a game. If you are MY upset with your child’s playing time, etc., you must wait 24 hours CY before talking to the coach. If you still are angry after that time has CMY passed, then it is a real emotion, and it’s okay to begin the conversation. However, in many cases, the emotion dies down before 24 hours, K and you are glad you did not react on adrenaline. Time has a way of making us think more clearly about what we say and write. Every time I have reacted in the moment, I later kicked myself for getting baited, especially when I knew better and should have waited.

How about when we are lonely? Maybe you have not had much time around people recently or are just bored. When you have a lonely mindset, it is not a good time to make decisions on important matters because you are out of balance and need to be centered. It is easy to feel everyone else is getting something that you are not, or you feel they are in a better place than you are. Such thoughts creep into our heads when we are lonely. Social media such as Facebook or Instagram can seem like the ultimate “highlight reel” (no pun intended) of others’ lives and can lead to us feeling even more alone (Note to reader: such highlights are not “everyday life,” but can sure seem that way).

What about when we get tired? After all, in our rapidly moving world, we ALL get tired at some point. This is a time you feel significant stress and need to rest. You know... chill out. So, do not communicate something you will later regret because you’re worn out. It will come across the wrong way. Instead, get some rest and approach everything with a fresh perspective. This is why we tell people to get a good night’s sleep, and things will look better in the morning.

So, there you go. You have my take on the SHALT rule and how it helps us better understand our emotions and when we should/should not communicate. What about you? What “SHALT” you no longer do when you are not in the right frame of mind? Let’s also focus on