by Michele Newbern Gillis
Staff Writer
They say laughter is the best medicine and that’s a theme of Linda Cirulli-Burton of Linda Talks, who spoke at a recent St. Augustine Women’s Council of Realtors luncheon at Carrabba’s Italian Grill.
“Humor is obviously the best way to handle stress,” said Cirulli-Burton. “My definition of laughter is that it’s an ‘internal massage.’ It releases endorphins, increases creativity and helps you learn more.”
Cirulli-Burton said the ability to laugh is very important in the real estate industry.
“Too much stress works against motivation,” she said. “It damages the kind of long-term motivation required for productivity.”
She is married to a real estate appraiser and said she understands Realtors very well.
“This is how I perceive your world is - phone calls, deadlines, paperwork and irritated people,” she said. “Realtors have a higher threshold than the norm in the ability to deal with stress. Stressors are in our environment, body and thoughts. As I get older, I’m beginning to think more and more of the stress is what I am creating inside of my own mind.”
To help counter that, people need breaks.
Cirulli-Burton said to find something to focus on sometime during your day to give your mind little breaks.
“Anything you do can be a form of meditating,” she said.
She suggested find a rhythmical word or sound that you like and repeat the word or sound over and over concentrating on the word or sound.
“A thing that works for me is focusing my attention on an object,” said Cirulli-Burton. “It could be a flame, flower, statue, computer screen, coffee cup or anything. Put up a little sign that says ‘Meditating- don’t interrupt.’ Grab a minute here and there to deliberately slow yourself down and look or listen to something without the screaming in your head.”