When you arrive home from work, how many times have you exclaimed, "I'm stressed out"? Occasionally? Constantly? For years? Regardless of the answer, too many people continue to respond inappropriately because they have never considered the source of the problem.
We presume the exclamation is work related, but why? In today's corporate workplace with challenging times and a downsized economy, each of us encounters increasing distress. Yes, the word is really "distress" and not "stress".
The word stress originally came into common English usage via Old French and Middle English as distress. The first syllable eventually was lost through slurring just as children turn because into cause. The two words, stress and distress are totally different.
Activity associated with stress may be pleasant or unpleasant. Distress is always disagreeable! Stress is not something to be avoided...it cannot be avoided.
When we say someone is under stress, we actually mean under excessive stress or distress.... just as the statement "He is running a temperature" refers to an abnormally high temperature; i.e., fever. Similarly, no matter what you do or what happens to you, there arises a demand for the necessary energy required to maintain life, to resist aggression, and to adapt to constantly changing external influences. Even while fully relaxed and asleep, you are under some stress; your heart must continue to pump blood, your intestines to digest last night's dinner, and your muscles to move your chest for respiration; even your brain is not at rest while you are dreaming.
It is clear that since all stressors have some specific effects, they cannot always elicit exactly the same response. And even the same stimulus will act differently in different individuals, depending upon the internal and external conditioning factors, which determine how each will react. Stress factors will affect physiology and pathology.
Do not suppress stress! Importantly, however, you should suppress the response!
Hans Selye, Doctor of Psychology and Medicine, conceived, "Physiological stress is a response to any type of demand made on the body."
Whatever the problem, it can be met only through one of two basic reaction forms:
1. Actively...through fight
2. Passively.... by running away or putting up with it.
So, teach yourself to respond creatively to your distress. Do not run away from your stress. Identify the source of your distress and fight to correct it. Once you correctly discover your problem, make a change and get away from it. Achieve difference with the stress and you will improve your professional distresses and make yourself a better person socially. You'll like yourself better as will your family and friends.
Once you respond creatively to stress, then, I'll teach you methods of relaxation through diet and exercise. Don't be alarmed! Diet refers to three good meals daily. Exercise refers to gym workouts and running or walking to improve your cardiovascular strengths. Personally for Smith, gym workouts are as much mental as physical. If you feel better physically, you'll feel better mentally and force your brain to function maximally. Relaxation techniques will assist you in freedom from major stressors.
We always incur stress and distress. If you believe people with whom you work or play have no distress, take their pulse. If they have no pulse, they have no stress!
James' applications are designed for companies and organizations that will accept his challenges to aggressively outperform their competitors with quality customer service. These accomplishments are achieved with integrity.
From a 55-minute keynote to multiple day programming and consulting, James Smith researches and delivers to you the best information and training to elevate you and your company to the maximum levels of performance and success.
To learn more about James, visit http://www.smithspeaks.com/.
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