Prolonged stress shortens our lives. Every time we loiter over stressful issues, we ruin our health and shorten our lives. Yet we multiply stress by putting things off.
Lower stress quickly with intentional action. Don’t say, “I need more misery,” before you grapple with a decision that’s polluting your peace of mind.
Lower stress quickly:
Your body doesn’t care what’s causing stress. It’s begging you to do something. Why elevate anxiety? Make that decision. Face that conflict. Delegate that responsibility before your stomach punishes you.
The best way to manage stress is to face the thing that’s causing anxiety. If possible, physically move toward your fear (unless you’re in a heated argument).
Determine what you want before you act. Action without intention leads to confusion and exhaustion. Engage the courage circuit* by doing something productive. When you’re unsure, act with reasonable confidence that you won’t make things worse.
You can’t finish until you begin. Choose how you will show up for a tough conversation. Identify five key behaviors that express your intention. Imagine yourself living into those five behaviors. Picture where you are when you show up. Choose your body language and tone of voice. After you imagine success, take the next step.
- Discuss your plan with a trusted advisor. Seek feedback and advice.
- Plan your response to surprises. What will you do when the unexpected happens?
- Finish a small task like scheduling an appointment or sending an email. You could pick up the phone or drop by someone’s office.
You elevate stress by focusing on it. You lower stress quickly when you clarify what you want and take the next step. Action answers anxiety.
What’s something useful you do to answer stress?
*Read about the courage circuit at Stanford Medicine.
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Previously Published on leadershipfreak with Creative Commons License
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