Stress: Finding Cures in Causes
Spotting and understand stress-factors begins your journey to less stress.
Stress is an unavoidable, natural response to demands, threats, overloads, new situations, deadlines, or other pressures. Don’t be stressed that you feel stressed. However, work to mitigate it.
Cumulative:
Additionally, the straw that broke the camel’s back is a way of saying small stressors accumulate. That means a series of small pressures creates the same stress as one or two large stressors.
And’s of stress:
Positive and negative experiences produce stress. Both a marriage and a funeral are stressful. Good stress and bad stress have the same results.
Stress includes your perception of the world around you. In that sense, stress is caused by the external world in combination with that which is within.
15 Reasons Leaders Feel Stress
- An inability to say no
- Lack of systems, processes, and procedures
- Negative comparisons with the strengths or successes of others
- Unrealistic expectations
- Defining themselves by the opinions of others
- Inability to trust others
- Anger, resentment or bitterness
- Acting independently from the C-Suite or Board of Directors
- Dishonesty
- Lack of sustaining relationships
- Arrogance rather than humility
- Pretending to know more than they know
- Losing sight of the big picture
- Focusing more on receiving than giving – too much giving is a problem too
- Feeling disconnected from a larger purpose or direction
Cures for stress emerge by shifting the negative causes of stress to new attitudes and positive behaviors. For example, stress caused by an inability to say no is mitigated by learning to say no.
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What other reasons for stress can you add to the list of 15? Which is most stressful for you?
What positive behaviors help mitigate stress?
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This is a very useful synopsis of common contributors to stress – very helpful. Many thanks.
Thank you Craig. Best, Dan
I think you have covered all the roots for stress here Dan, so I can’t think of anything further. Great observations though and fantastic post.
Thabo,
Great seeing you and thanks for the good word.
Cheers,
Dan
Um resumo simples e direto. Muito Bom! Temos agora que botar em prática para combater os sintomas.
Hi Dan,
Next week, I’m teaching a course called “Choosing to Stress Less in a Stress More World” at a local college. We’re going to examine a lot of what you have here, and some additional bits too (e.g., beliefs that conflict with desires, and trying to change others), as sources of stress in our lives.
I like that you talk about both inner and outer worlds. One of the things we do in my workshops is to develop an “inner stress strategy”. We want to look at our habitual stressors; uncover our conflicting beliefs; look for where the the resistance is in our lives (all stress is a form of resistance), and then create a strategy with practical steps and practices to make improvements in how we feel and perform.
I also love that you point out that there are good stresses and bad stresses. We make an additional distinction in the course by calling out stresses that we consciously choose as challenges (weight lifting, breaking through to a deeper level of intimacy) as part of our “bucket” of stress, and also how some folks try to use one stress (e.g., addiction [Fail], or overtraining) in an attempt to balance another.
Last but not least, we talk about soothing therapies and uplifting approaches to living that I believe have a place in developing resilience and stress-recovery.
Glad to see this post this morning!
Mark,
Thanks for both affirming and adding value to the conversation. I always enjoy seeing you. When I posted this one, I hoped you might jump in. I know this topic is important to you.
Best,
Dan
One additional point you made that I would like to bring emphasis to, because I think it is pretty important. You wrote:
“Additionally, the straw that broke the camel’s back is a way of saying small stressors accumulate. That means a series of small pressures creates the same stress as one or two large stressors.”
I believe this is a good thing to keep in mind next time we want to get critical about the reaction of someone else to what we think of as a “small problem.” What we are seeing as a “small problem” might in fact be that “last straw” or “last drop” that tips the “bucket of stress.”
It’s good to give the benefit of the doubt to others, ask some questions, and perhaps uplift where we can. Who knows what else is in that bucket?
Best,
Mark
Mark,
Always love your wisdom…thank you sir!
Best,
Dan
Hi Dan,
The Dolly Lammy loves your article, realizing although we can never take stress out of the workplace, we can however use conscious breathing as a positive action to help mitigate stress within. It is simple, free and works for all.
Many corporations spend thousands of dollars annually on stress management workshops, seminars, retreats etc. and there is a substantial increase in interest for yoga, exercise and meditation to deal with stress at home or in the workplace.
Still the economic loss due to stress related absenteeism in the workplace in Canada alone last year was about $57 billion dollars.
I have come to realize that, although all of the above mentioned activities have great value in improving life qualities, it is in that moment of stress that we need something immediate, simple and effective.
Conscious breathing, becoming aware of your breathing is the answer and would have thought something so simple can be so effective!
The greatest challenge however, is remembering to breathe consciously in those moments of need. That’s why I was created with the following features:
‘just breathe’ printed on my arm as a reminder to breathe consciously.
My large tummy a reminder to breathe in-tummy out.
Shoulders down and arms loose for good posture.
Head held high for self esteem and reminder to reach for the stars.
I come complete with simple breathing instructions and have an extensive breathing library on my website: http://www.thedollylammy.com
With me by your side, we can make a great team. I can be your inspirational companion, breathing buddy, mentor, coach, buddy or stress buster.
Cheers,
The Dolly Lammy
Thanks Dan, another very practical post. Your fifteen flags are great markers to watch our own spirit/soul/conduct.
Hi Ken,
Thanks for the good word. It helps lower my stress level. 🙂
Cheers,
Dan
Hi Dan, and thanks Dolly for the inspiring reply.
In my opinion an 8-8-8 rule is something we should focus on. 8 hours sleep, 8 hours work and 8 hours sparetime. At least on a monthly base the equation should look like that, otherwise the stressfactor gets too high, or at least that is my experience.
best regards Johan S, Turku Finland
Hi Johan,
The idea of rest goes hand in hand with less stress. Plus stress makes us more tired. In other words, more stress means you need more, not less rest.
Thanks for your comment,
Dan
Thanks for being a stone that we blades can be sharpened upon.
Charles, Very creative and encouraging expression, thank you. Cheers!