In the final season of Seinfeld, George Costanza’s father, Frank, is diagnosed with high blood pressure and he’s told to deal with that by saying “serenity now” when he feels himself getting angry.
In typical Frank fashion, he doesn’t say serenity now, he screams it over and over again while looking skyward and raising his hands.
In life, if you have moments where it seems like screaming would be a really good solution, consider these three options.
- Deep Breathing Exercises: Slowing down your breath can signal your nervous system to calm itself, even in the middle of high stress. Just a few deep inhales and slow exhales can ground you and create enough space to respond thoughtfully instead of reacting emotionally.
- Meditation: Even a few minutes of quiet reflection can help restore a sense of calm and perspective. It’s not about clearing your mind completely—it’s about noticing what’s happening inside and gently returning to center. (I really like the Insight Timer App, and even the free version provides a lot of great content and options: https://insighttimer.com/
- Stretching Exercises: Stretching releases physical tension that often builds up during stress or frustration. Gentle movement can help you reset both mentally and physically, especially during a packed or intense workday.
While screaming “serenity now” may feel great in the moment, those other options are probably better long-term solutions.