Hey leaders and entrepreneurs, let’s dive into a topic that affects us all: stress.
Ever feel like you’re drowning in it, like there’s just too much to handle? Like you are one phonecall away from a really serious burnout?
Well, here’s the thing: stress isn’t some mysterious force that descends upon us out of nowhere. It’s actually the gap between our expectations and reality. Think about it: when what we expect doesn’t match up with what’s actually happening, that’s when the stress starts to creep in.
Take Diana for instance. She’s a high achieving entrepreneur I see weekly in our business coaching sessions. She is always setting the bar sky-high for herself, but when things don’t go according to plan, maybe a project falls through or a deadline gets pushed back Diana feels the weight of that gap between what she expected and what actually happened. And she takes it very personally. It’s like a constant battle between her idealized version of how things should be and the messy reality of everyday life. The moment she realised this and started using techniques to bridge the gap between her desire, her perception and the actual reality she started getting on top of her anxiety.
But here’s the good news: this gap between is not set in stone. In fact, we have the power to shrink it just as we have the power to increase it and realising this will give you your power back. Oh and if you add always being in the present moment you will be unstoppable.
It all starts with accepting that life isn’t always going to go according to plan and that’s okay. It’s about letting go of perfectionism and embracing the messy, beautiful reality of being human. The most painful lesson for us perfectionists is that all that extra effort and extra attention to detail will not even be noticed by our peers, by our customers. So it is all a balancing act. That simple.
And remember: drepression comes from worrying and not being ok with the past and anxiety comes from worrying about the future. So next time you feel the stress making itself present in your day, take a step back and ask yourself:
Am I expecting too much from myself or from others?
Am I holding onto an unrealistic standard that’s causing me unnecessary stress?
By recognizing and addressing those gaps, you will take control of your stress levels and by focusing on the present you will find greater peace and contentment in your worklife.
Because when it comes down to it managing stress isn’t about eliminating expectations altogether: it’s about finding the balance between striving for excellence and accepting the imperfect beauty of reality.
#stressmanagement #performance #theACEmethod #MonaBardos