Thriving Under Pressure

Ways to manage your business stress.

Just like a pot of water needs heat to break through from water to steam, our own personal breakthroughs often follow an uncomfortable period of “feeling the heat”.

If you’re in the process of transforming your business into something it’s never been, that “heat” might feel like a higher level of pressure or stress as you leave your comfort zone behind.

And yet, chronic stress leads to anxiety, fatigue, burn out, and a host of other physical, mental and social consequences. Sure, pressure is necessary for growth, but in today’s world, who’s looking to add more stress?

Add Positive Pressure

While chronic negative stress leads to distress, positive pressure brings on a state of eustress.

Eustress describes the state of being that comes when you can recognize you’re being challenged, but you perceive it as an opportunity. You might feel excited, energized, or motivated. Just like distress, eustress forces us to leave our comfort zone. You can still feel the pressure, but it’s harnessed into action, satisfaction, and accomplishment.

In most cases, the biggest difference between a state of distress or eustress comes from how we perceive the situation. What might cause distress for one person can cause eustress for another. And luckily, the human brain can be trained to react more positively to any stressful situation.

Go From Negative to Positive

To harness the pressure from a stressful situation and convert it to eustress, here are four steps you can try.

Stop and think

Our best decisions aren’t based on knee-jerk reactions. Even under pressure (especially under pressure!) it’s critical to stop and think. Pull out a notebook and start with the key bulletpoints. What’s the real challenge, and what elements are under your control? What’s scaring you? Putting those loose thoughts and feelings into words takes you from an emotional response to a more logical, rational one.

What’s pulling you forward?

Connect the situation with your big vision, ambition, or Big Hairy Audacious Goal. What action or decision will carry you forward? Sometimes, your long-term vision can also help put today’s situation into proper perspective. Will this even matter a year from now?

Make an action plan

Think about the baby steps. What can you do today, what comes next week, and how far can you get in 90 days? Break the challenge into manageable steps – and take it one step at a time.

Manage your physical response

What are the physical symptoms of negative stress? Some people feel their face flush, their heart rate increase, or their stomach tighten… Recognizing those physical symptoms and treating them through breathing exercises, meditation or mindfulness, and rest can help the brain interpret a stressful scenario in a more positive light.

This Week’s Takeaway

There’s no evidence that a completely stress-free life is a happy one, or even that such a thing could be achieved. Stress management converts negative pressure into positive pressure, which turns into growth for your business.

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