Cultivate Self Regulation

Starting something new– whether it’s a business, a project, or any major challenge has a unique way of revealing who we are at the core.

My name is Eean Tyson, your Guide to Bloom.  I coach professionals, creatives, and entrepreneurs to unlock their full potential and achieve self-actualization. 

Three months ago, I launched Arc & Bloom Professional Services, an executive coaching and consulting company specializing in self actualization.  Starting from scratch has been a challenge.  Truth is, I’ve never been an Executive Coach or a business consultant. My 20 years of experience and education along the way, has created a person who loves to coach and support individuals toward reaching their goals or overcoming obstacles. I’m also someone who loves to co-create innovative solutions with organizations. For me, Arc & Bloom is the intersection of my experience, my education, abilities, and passions.  I am excited to be of service. 

With that being said, excitement and motivation aren’t sustainable.  That is why I have relied on being consistent and disciplined. Everyday is an opportunity to make progress, so I try to make progress everyday. One of my biggest challenges is productivity inconsistency.  Some days, I’m highly productive and creative, pretty much unstoppable.  Other days, it’s a slow meandering process and feels hard to even get an instagram post finalized. It got me thinking about the importance of not only self awareness, but also self regulation. Self regulation is, simply put, the ability to understand and manage your behavior and your reactions to feelings and things happening around you. With productivity inconsistency, self regulation is essential to get back on track.  It allows me to identify the why, manage my feelings in different moments, and address the problem that I am facing. Self regulation is not just a tool but a muscle you have to train. 

Here are 5 ways to cultivate self regulation

• Build Self Awareness

Self Awareness is a superpower.  It’s the first and most important step in any personal development journey. Building self awareness is all about reflecting and taking account of your actions, feelings and reactions.  The ability to evaluate yourself and your emotions can make personal growth more achievable. Take 5 minutes a day to assess yourself. This daily practice can help you understand your patterns and habits.

• Practice Self Compassion

Be kind to yourself. This is a step that has been a challenge for me. Practice positivity by celebrating small wins or when you achieve a goal. Forgiveness is also paramount.  Forgive yourself when you make a mistake or when a plan doesn’t go as planned.  Finally, take a break.  Rest is so important to show yourself care and compassion.

• Journal

Journaling is a great way to organize your thoughts.  It’s also a good way to document your feelings and emotions. Journaling can be self soothing and a way to document progress.  The most powerful part of journaling is the ability to see the progress and growth over time. 

• Make a Plan

Every day, we are faced with different experiences, challenges, and emotions.  Making a plan about how you’d like to respond in different situations can be a game changer.  No matter what you are faced with, you can create a plan for how you’d like to respond. A plan creates a path for you and your mind to navigate through your challenges, obstacles and emotions. 

• Continue your Education 

Read books, journals, take online courses, and listen to podcasts about personal development.  This will help you continue to recognize your behaviors and help you continue to create strategies that improve your self awareness and your ability to self regulate. 

For me, self regulation is an ongoing process and a journey. It is a skill I continue to develop and cultivate the more I put it to practice.  It helps me manage my time, and moments that can be challenging.  It has the potential to help you focus, help you remain calm, and help you regulate reactions in the face of negative emotions. How do you practice self regulation?

The more you practice, the more control you’ll have over your emotions and actions–leading to a more focused, calm, and fulfilling journey, 

Remember, The Journey is the Destination.