I'm Stressed!

(but, maybe that’s a good thing)

Does change –– or even the mere thought of change, ignite feelings of stress in you?

Change used to be seen as an event that could be mapped in a straight line. We simply had to identify where we were and where we wanted to go, and then take a series of prescribed steps to get there. But, that was the mid-90s.

Fast forward to today.

Change is significantly more complicated. Changes start and stop, midstream. They take sudden, new directions based upon unexpected, outside forces. They become layered and intertwined.

Is it any wonder, then, that today stress levels are soaring?

We tend to view the stress associated with change as being bad. But, what if it is actually something to be embraced?

According to the article, The Upside of Stress, in the 2017 publication, How to Beat Stress, it’s not all bad. Those emotions can be beneficial, when approached with the right mindset.

Here are a few tips to welcome stress:

One bite at a time

Stress can spike when we feel we have no control over the situation. The way to gain a feeling of control is to do something small. You’ve heard the expression: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. The key is to just start, somewhere.

Glass half full

Making this mental shift — seeing the glass as half full, may increase your positive emotions, heighten your attention to positive stimuli, and boost cognitive flexibility –– all of which can cause you to perform better.

Adrenaline rush

When your heart is pounding, take note. It’s actually a positive sign that there’s more blood and oxygen pumping through your body. People who do a lot of public speaking know this to be a good thing. That rush of adrenaline boosts their energy prior to going on stage and helps them focus. Use that energy to your advantage.

So, the next time you feel stressed about change, try one of these tips to turn that stress into positive energy.

Thanks for being involved today,

Tim McCleary
Managing Director
The Involvement Practice