WHEN we think of stress, we generally view it as negative concept. In fact, for many people, the dream is to live a ‘stress-free’ life, and whilst stress can undoubtedly reach an unhealthy level, is this goal really worth aiming for?
By becoming so focused on trying to eliminate stress from our lives, we are failing to recognise the important (and helpful) role it plays. Psychologists have long known that stress and anxiety are both unavoidable and the truth is, we need stress in our lives.
Stress is often triggered when people are performing at the edge of their ability. This can be caused by circumstances outside of our control or when we really push ourselves.
Athletes working at the top of their field often attribute the pressure and rivalry between other competitors as a positive factor in enabling them to push themselves. Stress allows us to push boundaries and by doing this we can maximise our personal capabilities and achievements. At its very essence, stress provides an opportunity to grow.
Stress activates a physiological response in our bodies, and this can be beneficial in many ways including:
:: Increasing motivation;
:: Increasing focus and concentration levels;
:: Improving energy levels;
:: Making you more alert (think fight or flight);
:: Heightening senses;
:: Increase the effectiveness of our immune system – stress over a short period of time can actually help to protect us from infection.
Psychologist Lev Vygotsky famously argued that individuals learned best when they were faced with a challenge just outside of their current comfort zone – an often-stressful situation. By changing our response to stress, we can begin to embrace its benefits – allowing us to perform better and therefore achieve more.
However, it’s important to note the difference between ‘good’ stress and ‘bad’ stress. When stress reaches a level that exceeds a person’s ability to absorb it then it becomes unhealthy, and this can impact both an individual’s mental and physical health. When stress becomes overwhelming it is important to take measures to reduce it either through stress management strategies or by seeking help from a trained professional.
The body is programmed to react to anything we perceive as a threat. If we shift our perception of what a threat is – instead viewing it as a challenge – then we can eliminate our threat-based stress response. So instead of feeling fear, we may feel excitement or anticipation.
To do this we need to adopt a more positive mindset, focusing on our strengths as well as the resources we have to deal with the situation. By doing this, you can transform stress into something productive.
There is no denying that when stress is effectively managed, it can be advantageous but whilst some people appear to thrive in stressful environments, others seem to struggle to perform, often having negative consequences.
Perhaps it is our reaction to stress that determines its impact upon us. By accepting stress as an unavoidable presence and arming ourselves with the correct tools to allow us to overcome the negative impact of it, we might be able to use it to our advantage, using it as a means to push forward and break boundaries.
Alternatively, by aiming to remove stress completely aren’t we simply limiting ourselves – preventing us from fulfilling our full potential?
:: Neil McLeese is managing director of BeyondHR
from WordPress https://ift.tt/Jqv89ud
via IFTTT
0 Comments