What’s Your Current Stress Level?

How stressed are you? On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being “I can’t take much more” to 1 being, “Huh, what is there to be stressed about?” 

Just remember that extremes are never sustainable.  

Where you want to be is between 4-6 which I have labeled “The SAFE STRESS ZONE.” 

Here is how I developed ways to stay in “the zone.” 

It’s mental, emotional and yes, even physical. 

Research shows that while stress is nothing new, it takes on a whole new meaning during tough times.  

You hear it all the time. People are talking about burnout, exhaustion, tension, and overload. 

The talk today is sadly in disclaimer language, you know, like “That’s not my job.” Or “I didn’t sign up for this.” Or “I need more help and I’m not getting it.” 

Are you overdosing on pleasing others? Frustrated that you can’t get done what you planned this morning? Angry that your pet projects are now on hold? 

You’re not alone — stress is of pandemic proportions these days. 

Not a meditator? Get annoyed with those who beg you to practice yoga even though you would rather life weights at the gym? Find yourself filling the discomfort with comfort foods? 

Unless you want to go and meditate on the top of a mountain all by yourself (actually doesn’t sound so bad now, does it)? 

The old way of handling stress is to look for someone to blame. The old way is to say those around you aren’t helpful. The old way is to either shout out your upset or stuff it down. 

The new way is to adapt.  

The new way is to adjust. 

If you can’t ignore the rate of change or the amount of responsibilities on your plate, you have one other option.  

You can change the way you handle stress, frustrations, and fears differently. 

Ya, Ya, you’ve heard that before. 

Of course, you have. 

Just stay with me for a moment. 

I’m going to give you the cheat sheet version of what has been taught in our leadership programs for years. 

1. ZEN IT: Easy to say, hard to do. Practice staying in the moment. Do what is in front of you without wasting energy blaming others. No pity parties, please. 
2. EXPLORE IT: Take time to learn what is new. Read (may I suggest my book Don’t bring It to Work), take an on-line course, get on the phone or Zoom and talk with those who have blazed the trails before you. 
3. COMMIT TO IT: Decide that you have a great deal to give and then, don’t hold back. Give your best no matter what others are doing. Give without secretly only doing things to get rewards. Just do it. 
4. REACH FOR IT: Stretch yourself by taking on new and challenging projects. I promise you will find that you are both able to be amazingly flexible and expandable at the same time. 
5. LAUGH AT IT: Stress can’t stand you having fun, smiling, and laughing. Laughter changes your physiology as well as your psychology. Take a five–minute break every so often, find something on-line that makes you belly laugh and send it to a friend. 

We all learned behavior patterns for handling stress from our families when we were kids. The world, we would all agree, is changing rapidly and it is time to find as many new ways to prevent stress from kicking us down as possible. 

No more what-ifs or if-onlys.  

Take time now to practice safe stress and help make the world a better place. 

My new mini-course on safe stress is almost ready so please watch the masterclass to get some good ideas and then sign up. You and those you care about will be glad you did. 

To your success, 

Sylvia 

About Sylvia Lafair

As a curious kid, I was fascinated watching how often people would make the same mistakes and complain about the same upsets time after time. I observed it in family, neighbors, at school and even in books and films.

As I grew older I saw how specific experiences become behavior patterns that people lived by yet barely noticed. It was “same stuff, different day,” just like in “Groundhog Day.”

My fascination with the power of personal and cultural patterns deepened after my father died from a sudden heart attack when I was 14. The cause? Constant conflict at work.

My determination to understand what happened and why led me to an amazing discovery: unresolved family patterns follow us to work. That’s what was behind the stress my father carried throughout his career.

Work stress became the enemy.

My search for more answers became my passion, to find ways to transform outdated, ingrained patterns that destroy health and the joy of success.

Now, I do what I do to prepare, liberate and empower leaders and teams — and to ensure no one need lose a loved one over unresolved conflict and stress at work.

Ready to take your leadership to the next level?

Take the leadership quiz>>HERE<<

Find out why kind of leader you are and how you can break through the barriers holding you back!

— Sylvia Lafair PhD — founder of Creative Energy Options (CEOInc.) and the world’s leading authority in Pattern Aware Leadership Development, Top Global Leadership Guru and award winning author of Don’t Bring It To Work.

Read Sylvia’s columns inINC.com and The National Business Journals