Open Thread, September 23-29, 2013

Mestroyer

If it's worth saying, but not worth its own post (even in Discussion), then it goes here.

CFAR has a class on handling your fight/flight/freeze reaction this Saturday Sept 28th.

The sympathetic nervous system activation that helps you tense up to take a punch or put on a burst of speed to outrun an unfriendly dog isn't quite so helpful when you're bracing to defend yourself against an intangible threat, like, say, admitting you need to change your mind.

Once of CFAR's instructors will walk participants through the biology of the fight/flight/freeze response and then run interactive practice on how to deliberately notice and adjust your response under pressure. The class is capped at 12, due to its interactive nature.

Would you be able to post a summary for people unable to attend? I find the topic very interesting, but habitually reside in a different continent,.

20benkuhn13y

An iteration of this class was one of the high points of the May 2013 CFAR retreat for me. It was extraordinarily helpful in helping me get over various aversions, be less reactive and more agenty about my actions, and generally enjoy life more. For instance, I gained the ability to enjoy, or substantially increased my enjoyment of, several activities I didn't particularly like, including: * improv games * additional types of social dance * conversations with strangers * public speaking It also helped substantially with CFAR's comfort zone expansion exercises. Highly recommended.