'Stress Doctor' Terry Lyles Demonstrates FormulaTo Achieve Balance And Help Navigating Life's Storms

One of the highlights of my recent trip to New Orleans was a session with Dr. Terry Lyles, who shared his formula and technology for finding true health, happiness, and increased productivity. "When there's no time left on the clock, you're 2 points down and on the foul line, what is that person thinking about before they shoot the shot? If they have one mental thought that says, 'If I miss this shot we lose' ... within moments, they are secreting negative brain chemistry," says Lyles, a clinical, psychologist. It's all about taking yourself out of the moment, he explains, about using rituals to transport yourself before the shot or point.

"They have to go from the mental side to tap into the emotional side next, which takes them to the physical part, which will be to shoot the foul shot. They've shot thousands of foul shots, but the issue is not shooting the foul shot, the issue is screaming fans, no time on the clock, and your whole team is looking for you to perform. The issue is focus."

The goals here come straight from basic psychology: to unearth who you really are, to decide who you want to be, and to take action. Clients are taught to alternate periods of intense stress with periods of relaxation or release, in fitness and in life. "In the corporate world, people are trained to be linear. They start the day and don't take breaks." He explains that an emotional and mental shift down - a rolling pattern as opposed to a straight line - will allow executives to come back and be totally refreshed.--U.S. News & World Report, July 3, 2000