Excuse Me…May I Offer You A Hankie? Three Tips to Squash the Common Cough.

hankie Strange question indeed. But everyday we encounter people that need a hankie. The back of their hand. The crook of their arm. A napkin. A tissue. A turn of the head. Anything to assist them from coughing all over you. You know what I’m saying! You’ve been the victim probably in the last few hours of someone coughing in your direction, not turning their head, ignoring the sputum that is dropping everywhere! tissues

Negative, emotional coughing, is just as contagious as an actual virus. It’s prevalent to epidemic proportions. In the family it starts as young as early school age children. The negative energy is flowing and causing stagnation in ever area of our lives. It’s as hard to combat as a super bug. And just like those bugs, there are few if any external medicines that will do the ultimate trick. The prescription is usually something like: Rest. Fluids. Disinfect your environment so you don’t contaminate the family.

Do the same principles apply when someone has a chronic cough? A super bug of the spirit? Is there a way to avoid catching the epidemic?!

The good news? Yes! You absolutely can. The other good news? It’s the same formula as for a regular cough. But be careful . . . Chronic Coughers are not easily shaken!

Three Tips To Squash The Common Cough

Take a Break. If you are constantly bombarded with the negative drama of others, their sad stories, their woe-is-me existence, or their tales of victimization you will eventually catch the Common Cough. So take a break. It’s easy to see who these folks are in your life; when you see their name on your phone or email, a little sigh escapes your lips. That “sigh” is your sign! Give yourself permission to limit time with this individual. Sometimes you know how much you immunity can take, and other times you don’t know until you get home and you are coughing too! So instead of that, make a decision to honor your boundaries. You deserve to be in the best health possible. (In another blog or video I will jump into what happens when the cough resides in the house with you! Stayed Tuned!!)
Fluids. Fluids lubricate the system. Fluids assist things to get and stay moving. Instead of the dryness of the throat, just a little fluid eases everything. The same is true in dealing with emotionally negative people. The fluid that is most readily available, but sometimes hard to muster is kindness, love, and understanding, and this takes time. Wait! Doesn’t that contradict “taking a break”? Not exactly. If you want to have the most positive experience possible, there has to be a fair amount of “benefit of the doubt”. Everyone deserves that. In practical terms this means you might have infrequent but kind communications with this person. Especially in the workplace or in closer relationships. Would it really hurt to acknowledge this person, perhaps offering them a listening ear every now and again? Could you offer them a hankie? Perhaps having a good word for them? Even though it may not seem to make a dent, it will make a difference. If not for them, it will for you. If will create an ease based on putting someone else first, even just for a little while.
Disinfect the Environment. There is a really good reason why frequent hand washing is recommended when we are sick. It prevents that spread of germs. Does this hold true with negative, emotional coughing too? Yes! To help protect yourself from catching the cough, simply clean up! Don’t leave the negativity to fester in your mind. Replace it with positive recordings. Read books that build. Post affirmations in your surroundings. Use uplifting music to tune it out. Light a candle. Burn some incense. Spritz essential oils. Journal. All of these are like disinfectants for the mind. Protect yourself and prevent the spread of negative energy!