Listen to the Episode Here (11:33)
Today I want to share with you a few thoughts from a great article in HBR on how stress can be a good thing if you know how to USE it.
Modern media and medical constantly promote the negative health impacts of stress (true)
But, what if you take a different perspective?
Stress free life is boring and unfulfilling…Tony Robbins 6 core human needs.
Think about your greatest personal growth…from stressful times.
*story about business change…best experience (in hindsight) and growth
Stress does have great attributes if you look for them.
Obviously you care if you are stressed.
…Sustained stress is never good, but focus on benefits can help.
Key is to reduce the bad and capitalize on the good.
3 steps to doing this…
1- See it
Most of us deny, avoid, label it bad or simply get overwhelmed and react.
Neuroscience has acknowledged that simply acknowledging stress can move reactivity in brain from automatic/reactive to conscious/proactive.
Plus, avoiding stress is just counter productive anyway.
Try mindfulness and breathing exercises to help you identify and control or deal with stress more proactively.
2-Own it
Recognize that you must truly “care” about something if it stresses you.
This unleashes positive energy and motivation to deal with stress.
Obviously there are going to be stressful times on a journey to growth, achievement and results.
Expect, Own and Accept it.
3-Use it
This one I really like, because its how you turn a problem into a solution
Finding ways to use your opponent or obstacles as the solution…
Ryan Holiday…the Obstacle is the Way.
I mean think about your bodies response mechanisms.
Its not responses that will kill us…its ways to increase alertness, stamina, energy, awareness, and skills.
hormones, adrenaline, dopamine…you get the idea right?…focus
Growth comes from stress…Corporate Athlete…Lifting Weights…
Your perception and reaction determines your results and responses…positive or negative.
When stress is more long term and not as easy to find solutions…
…just shift to the “learning and growth benefits”.
Example…
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mental toughness
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stronger relationships
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greater endurance
Ultimately, I am not talking about searching for or increasing your stress.
Rather, I am talking about taking something that typically derails a human and capitalizing on it.
If your thoughts, perceptions and philosophy creates your life…wouldn’t you rather adopt a good one around a topic that is so rampid and prevalent in todays world? I would…
I hope this perspective or thoughts have helped you to reframe your thinking around stress.
Maybe its given you some solutions or maybe its just given you some hope…regardless, I hope you see inspiration.
Have a great weekend. George
