From Stress to Success
Photo by Adam Custer on Unsplash
Dread it. Run from it. Stress arrives. Or simply put, stress is unavoidable, no matter how hard we try.
Whether it's the daily pressures of home life, managing chores or raising children or the challenges at work, like demanding bosses and tight deadlines, stress is part of our everyday experience. Stress can sometimes feel overwhelming, but please remember you are not alone. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is experiencing some levels of stress at any given time.
I think it’s fair to say that we’ve all dreamt of a stress-free life. I know I have, but realistically, stress will always be around. But what matters the most is how we handle it.
Unmanaged stress can impact your well-being, your productivity, and even your self-esteem. Speaking from personal experience, I’ve been navigating a particularly tough time of job insecurity, and in this instance, stress caused my hair to fall out, which escalated my anxiety and damaged my confidence even further. This cycle has taught me just how vital it is to manage stress proactively, rather than letting it spiral out of control.
For me, coaching has always been my go-to tool. I won’t say it’s the only solution to helping me manage stress, but I have found it to be a powerful tool that’s helped. I love coaching because it offers a safe space where you can openly express your thoughts, gain clarity, and create strategies to cope.
I believe that coaching is a tool that should be made accessible to everyone, especially for men, who often bottle up their emotions due to outdated stereotypes.
Understanding Stress
Now, I’m not going to pretend to be an expert on stress. But I have learned a few important things along my journey. For instance, did you know there are two main types of stress—eustress and distress? I didn’t.
Eustress is the positive stress that energises you, lifts your mood, and motivates you to tackle challenges effectively. Think about the excitement of starting a new job or the adrenaline before a sports competition.
Distress, however, is harmful and overwhelming, often manifesting as anxiety, fear, and emotional exhaustion. I think it’s good to understand the differences between the two, because stress, if harnessed correctly, can encourage growth and build resilience rather than damage your health.
Changing Your Relationship with Stress
I mentioned that coaching is my go-to method for managing stress. It creates a judgment-free space where I can dive into my thoughts and processes to better understand my emotional responses. Through coaching, I have begun to see that my setbacks are just temporary roadblocks rather than permanent obstacles.
Coaching:
Builds self-awareness
Reflecting on past experiences can help you better understand your emotional reactions to stress, in turn giving you clarity about what triggers you.
Promotes a positive mindset
During a coaching session, you can reframe negative experiences, turning tough situations into manageable challenges.
Provides accountability
Regular coaching sessions can keep you focused on your goals, ensuring progress and growth.
Identifying Your Triggers
For me, understanding what triggers my stress was incredibly helpful. As I’ve mentioned, self-awareness is a key part of this. And through coaching, I've learned to identify personal stressors, whether they're internal (like negative self-talk) or external (such as intense workplace pressure).
If you can recognise the early signs of stress, it can help you take proactive steps to manage it. For instance, if you realise you're constantly overcommitting or neglecting self-care, you can take small, but manageable actions towards healthier behaviours, like mindfulness or relaxation techniques.
Turning Stress into Motivation
As many of us may have experienced, stress can feel overwhelming. I know it has for me, but with the right support, it can become a driving force for motivation and clarity.
In my latest experience with stress, coaching helped me identify the root causes of my stress and build strategies to address them directly. During coaching sessions with my clients, I've seen them transform their stress into clear, achievable goals, leading to breakthroughs they previously thought were impossible.
Building Resilience through Coaching
Resilience is your inner "bounce-back." It’s your ability to adapt and emerge stronger from challenges.
Coaching supports resilience by:
Encouraging self-reflection to recognise past achievements, which can boost self-confidence.
Helping you confront your fears, making them seem less daunting.
Encouraging regular physical activity to reduce stress and improve your emotional health.
Celebrating small wins to maintain motivation and reduce feelings of overwhelm.
Building a supportive network of friends, family, and professionals to help you through difficult times.
Teaching emotional regulation techniques like deep breathing and mindfulness can help calm your mind during stressful moments.
Managing stress through coaching can be transformative, shifting you from overwhelmed to empowered.
Remember, you have the strength within you to handle stress effectively and turn it into lasting personal and professional success.
If you're ready to turn your stress into success, why not start now? Your journey begins with just one step.
Take that step today—thrive, don't just survive.
