Upside of stress?

We are all familiar with the dark side of stress: tight shoulders, trouble sleeping, emotional reactivity, etc., etc...but have you stopped to consider the potential BENEFITS of stress and disruption (cough “pandemic”, “societal unrest”, “social distancing”, “job loss”)? Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist who studies exactly this phenomenon.

While no one enjoys the struggle, I’m glad researchers are exploring the flip side of the coin to find some upside to adversity.

The key takeaway from Jonathan is that we rarely return to our normal ways of being and behaving after a truly difficult situation. Instead we go BEYOND that...growing and learning new ways to cope...indeed new ways of being in our life.

Based on Jonathan’s research, I invite you to take 10 minutes to:

1)     Think about how you might have GROWN these past few months. A few ideas to get you started: developed increased flexibility with where and how you work, started new rituals for yourself, focused more on the positive, realized you could use more sleep than you used to get, are more open to different perspectives, learned how to make a latte.

2)     Then DOCUMENT this growth somewhere. Either in a physical journal or I’m currently loving the online and FREE tool Trello which allows you to create a virtual board you can view on your phone and computer. You could create a board called “Growth” then populate it with items as you think of them.

3)     Lastly, CELEBRATE the growth. Doesn’t have to be anything fancy (but it can be! I encourage you to go big if you’re in the mood!). But take at least a moment to recognize your effort and growth.

In this manner you “get to write the ending” in the words of Brene Brown, and you can bounce back not just to where you were before, but to a place of greater strength. Please share your growth list with me in the comment section below. I am trying out a new format for these posts and would love to virtually celebrate and do a happy dance with you! 

My hope is that these posts help you on your path of growth. If I can assist you on your path, professionally or personally, please schedule a 20-minute “are we a good fit?” call here.

The intent of these posts is to provide different perspectives, ideas, and insights as you navigate the path forward for yourself, your team, your organization, and your family.