Since when is just “managing” an aspirational goal?

stress stress management stress positive surviving thriving Nov 15, 2018

I’ve been working with a lot of people and companies to transform their experience of stress – from surviving to thriving – and have found a troubling theme.  
 
Everyone agrees that “surviving” stress is not a good place to be, and most can also agree that “coping” is a dangerous place to be as it can so easily tip into “surviving”, or worse. But what’s surprised me, is how conditioned we’ve all become to accept “managing” as the gold standard.  
 
Take a step back and consider for a moment the implication of this acceptance.  The lost potential.  If I ask ‘how are you?’ and the answer is ‘I’m managing’, how does that make you feel? Do you feel energised and ready for the day-to-day challenges you are bound to encounter? Do you feel driven by purpose and efficacious? Are you engaged?
 
I’m guessing not.
 
Just “managing” may not be a negative, but it does leave you susceptible to slipping into  negative patterns and it’s a major let down in terms of the potential impact we could have.  We are capable of so much more.
 
Imagine now, if your answer is more on the lines of “I’m leveraging the stress” or “I’m thriving”. How do you feel now?  Instantly, energy levels elevate. Concentration and focus sharpen around the challenge at hand. You start to feel more empowered. 
 
Now, consider the implications of, not just you but, everyone around you embracing this mindset. Does stress go away? Absolutely not, however instead of being exhausted by it we become energised by it. Resentment fades.  People stop feeling so stretched and instead begin to feel empowered and fulfilled by the challenges they face.
 
Where are you, and your team, on the ladder from “surviving” to “thriving”?

 


We can’t change the presence of stress, however we can transform the experience of it.  Mindset could just be the most powerful tool we have.
 
Please email me if you’d like to learn how.

Check out highlights of Stress Positive training and hear from people who experienced it.

 

 

Here are some highlights from a recent breakfast seminar in Sydney on becoming Stress Positive, where we were join by over 70 amazing professionals from ASEX top list companies, creative agencies and tech companies changing the world as we know it.

 

 

For any Melbourne-siders I am speaking on a panel and running a workshop on how to thrive with stress and not just survive it at the Future of Work Conference on Nov 29.  Will be a great session!

Have a happy Friday and a great weekend!

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