Growth Dynamics Get Down

Symptoms:

Mike is feeling anxious, nervous and angry too often. He feels under stress and "burnt out" a great deal of the time. His production is all over the place and everywhere he looks he sees problems, to-do lists and someone who needs something from him. Mike's response to this pressure is learned helplessness, withdrawal and the giving-up reaction. This quitting response seems to have followed his perception that he has no control over his situation. He blames "bad karma" and the "unfairness of life" and "2020" as the lead prosecutor on his case. 

Diagnosis:

All experiences are filtered through our personal perception and our bias distorts them to fit our entrenched beliefs. So, much of our stress is not from the situation we face but rather our perception of it. Mike knows there are stressors in his life, but not all truly need to cause him stress or heighten his anxiety. 

The feeling of having no control over your life or the events of the work day can be more stressful than true danger. In a recent experiment, race car drivers had their stress levels measured both while driving at 200 mph and when they were in the pit having the crew working on their cars. Which do you think was higher?

Prescription:

It important to make sure you take a few minutes as often as you need to stop feeling like you are spinning out. Spinning out does not help you, your clients or your friends and family. 

10 ideas about worrying wisely and regaining control:

• Look to solve those situations that are in your control
• Cope with things that are beyond your control
• Most of our stress is in response to trivial vs. important
• Decide where responsibility belongs and then keep it there!
• Choose your battles wisely. Remember you can't control the weather and you can't fix stupid.
• Avoid being a dumping ground for the problems of others. Help them find their own answers.
• Quit trying to be a super-hero all the time. Ask for help when you need it.
• Do not run your engine at a breakneck pace all the time
• Tackle the tough stuff. The best way to get over it is to get on with it!
• Re-humanize yourself. Work is only a part of life vs. life itself

Even a race car needs to get refueled and recharged before getting back on the track for the win. Sometimes you need to slow down before you can speed up again.

Critical Thinking

Write down the top 3 things that are bugging you the most so that you offload them from your brain to the paper. Now become a 3rd party observer.

Which of the ideas above will you recommend to yourself to get the most relief?

The Drill
Final Thought for the Morning:

Your Top 3 Goals & Tactics for the Week
LAST WEEK: Update us on how things went last week with your stated Goals and GD Tactics.
THIS WEEK: Please share your Top 3 Goals for this week and the GD tactics you plan to deploy.