Wise woman

In this clip Yasuko is showing a ‘hand reflexology’ trick for slowing down anger. Those indirect pressure points don’t work for me, but her basic advice about anger is deeply and eternally wise, and also good science.

= = = = = START YASUKO QUOTE:

It looks and feels like people are getting snappier as we go through this interesting time together. … If you happen to say those bad words that often come out of your mouth automatically, your brain doesn’t know if you’re saying it to someone else or yourself. So whenever you say those bad words, follow up with something positive directed at yourself.

= = = = = END YASUKO QUOTE.

I was discussing this point a few months ago.

= = = = = START REPRINT:

Why does ANYONE need to get rid of troubles by talking about them? In my experience the talking, regardless of receiver, only makes things worse.

It’s better to discharge troubles through exercise and creativity. Transform the trouble energy into kinetic energy. The best creative work comes from the worst troubles.

Receiver is the key. When I tell my troubles to a named receiver, whether it’s God or the universe or a counselor or a friend, there’s one constant unnamed receiver. My own ears. The troubles enter the auditory system and carve new paths in memory, thus reinforcing the pain. Rebreathing the troubles harms emotional immunity in the same way that a muzzle harms microbial immunity.

= = = = = END REPRINT.

Another Yasuko clip is also based on real science, mobilizing a basic part of our nervous system that is NOT commonly known. I’d never heard of it before.

= = = = =

Later: The indirect methods don’t work but some of the direct pressure points DO work splendidly. This trick to loosen the gluteus minimus worked yesterday. The usual lower back pain started when I got off the bus clumsily, twisting and jumping down to the curb with a heavy grocery bag. Normally the pain lasts for a week or two despite my attempts to massage various muscles and pop various vertebrae. The gluteus technique reduced the pain immediately, then after sleeping it’s all gone.

Especially salient because lower back pain is nearly universal for older folks, and the web is full of tricks and techniques. Yasuko’s technique is the ONLY one that works.