Too much exposure to radiation can have fatal consequences. Depending upon the strength and type of radiation, exposure can result in nausea, fatigue, vomiting, destruction of intestinal lining, damage to the nervous system or death. There’s nothing more fatal than death.
What can be done to prevent such ill effects? Three preventative measures include increasing distance from the radiation source, reducing exposure time to the radiation and shielding yourself with a protective material. A simpler way to remember these is: distance, time and shielding.
The most effective of the three is distance. It’s best to be far, far away from any radiation source. This, of course, isn’t always possible. You might work with radioactive materials, there might be a natural disaster that causes radiation release or you might actually need to irradiate yourself for health reasons.
It’s a good idea to get an X-ray of a broken bone. Better you experience a short burst of X-ray radiation then your broken wrist heal perpendicular to your forearm.
When we do expose ourselves to radiation we should try to do it for as short a duration as possible. And we should wear proper protection.
My dental hygienist once tried to convince me that sending X-rays through my jaw was completely safe. Of course she had no response when I asked,”Why did you put a lead bib over me and why do you go into a different room to push the button?”
I had the X-ray done because I wanted to make sure I didn’t have cavities but I wouldn’t call it a COMPLETELY safe procedure. Unless I’m about to be fed sizzling, hot lobsters I think the lead bib is there to protect me from radiation exposure.
Radiation rips apart atoms in our bodies, mangles our DNA and replaces healthy molecules with harmful ones. For example, strontium is similar to calcium and the body of a person who has absorbed too much radioactive strontium will begin to replace the calcium in the bones with strontium. This produces very weak bones. Similarly cesium is similar to potassium and the body will begin to replace potassium in tissues with cesium.
This is why high doses of calcium and potassium are prescribed to those with radiation poisoning. It ensures the body has more than enough supply of calcium and potassium and isn’t tempted to use harmful strontium or caesium in their place.
Just as nuclear radiation can damage our body so can emotional radiation damage our psyche. Some people are so full of negativity and anger, just being around them can result in a total loss of energy and motivation.
What to do in these situations? The same thing recommended for preventing radiation exposure: distance, time and shielding. If you can avoid being around negativity then avoid it. If you can’t avoid it then don’t stick around for too long. If you have to be around for a long time then try shielding yourself.
When I’m at work sometimes I have no choice but to be around a colleague outraged about a minor inconvenience they suffered. It’s usually something that happened to them on the way to work or something said to them by another person in the office.
If I can duck away to my desk I will (distance). If I can courteously remove myself after listening to a brief, pointless tirade I’ll do that (time). But if I have to stay because I’m in a meeting with the person or in the same room with the person or the person complaining happens to be my boss, then I shield myself.
I wrap myself in an imaginary lead suit which protects me from harmful emotional radiation. And then I begin to quietly consume positive thoughts to ensure the negativity near me doesn’t take root in my mind.
That was a good meditation this morning.
Boy, that Nelson Mandela was an amazing person.
What a delicious meal I had last night.
I’m glad I don’t have any debt.
Linda in accounting is a very cheerful person.
Other times I’ll just repeat a simple, silent mantra.
I’m careful to not offend the person complaining near me. I also make sure I give them a small amount of validation until I can escape. It’s not ideal, but then again neither is letting myself be flooded with vitriol.
Just as there are times I allow myself to be exposed to X-rays for health reasons so too there are times I willingly allow myself to be around grouchy people. This is because sometimes those I love need to let off a bit of steam and it is in my best interest to be there to listen to them and support them. I know I have such grouchy times myself and all I want during those times is to be heard for a few minutes until I cool down.
It is the job of the mind elevater to know when to expose themselves to emotional radiation and when to implement the three strategies of distance, time and shielding.
