Today’s article is inspired by a recent client conversation.
To be more ‘specific’, it was about their wife.
Their wife had spent the last couple of days in bed, and was feeling pretty crook and miserable.
We’ve all been there ourselves no doubts.
His wife had also just been the director, producer, and creator of a major school production, which had 19 different acts, and included three separate performances over a few days.
It was an epic performance by all accounts.
And knowing the multiple day event experience like I do – having consulted and worked on four Olympics Games and mega sporting events – I know full well what it is like when you finally get the event over the line.
First there is celebration (if you have the energy left for it).
Then often a crash, as the body needs to take a huge ‘TIME OUT’ since it has been running on adrenalin (and cortisol) for the weeks leading up too the event, and then doing making it through the event itself.
The body is not rebelling, as such.
It just needs to slow things way the heck down so it can do all the repair work it has been putting off, and which has occurred through way too much adrenalin and cortisol over an extended period of time.
Extended periods of time at full burn, without appropriate down time, is a recipe for us all to ‘spud in’.
We just need to get better at self-managing, and plugging in rest spots where we can.
Now I want to come to the point I wanted to make in today’s ‘lesson’.
It is about caring.
Which is a bloody good thing.
It just had a ‘cost‘ which we need to acknowledge.
What I think we know, but forget, or forget to acknowledge
There is a very simple point I want to make today.
It happened with my clients wife who CARED about creating a great event for the kids participating, and the audience they were performing to.
She cared about doing a great job.
And that is commendable.
Very.
And it is also good for the soul, self-esteem building and empowering our personal psychology.
However…
The price we pay for caring is that we are likely to experience higher levels of STRESS.
If we didn’t care, the stress levels would be way down, or close to non-existent.
SO, my big point, and reframe is this.
It is okay to experience stress sometimes.
It is often a healthy (life) sign that you CARE, which IMHO makes you a better human being.
Be ready for it.
Don’t fight it, or think that you are doing poorly, or mustn’t know what you are doing, or any other ‘negative’ self-talk.
Often you experience stress because you care.
So “Thank you stress, for reminding me that I am a good human being who cares about how I express myself, and how I serve others on this planet.”
And obviously, as you know I teach, it is okay to feel a “bit” of stress (which means you care), but not “too much” stress for “too long” or it starts to take you out of homeostasis and into the realm of poor health.
But that is a separate topic.
Today’s primary point is: if you are feeling stressed about something you are doing or delivering, it is very likely a positive sign that you are a good human and care about what you are doing.
So let me bow my head in your direction, and then give you a congratulatory pat on that back.
The world is a better place for you and me caring.
That’s all.
In Summary
It is okay to feel some stress, when we are doing or delivering something, as it actually means we CARE, which makes us a good human being (and not a psychopath or narcissist.
Just find the tools, or help, to ensure your stress does not get too high, or linger for too long, as it will impact your performance and eventually your health.
And finally, thank you for being a good human being.
My Parting Words
I often think I am going to write a short article, but if I say that at the start of the article, it mostly ends up being a long article.
So I refrained from that, and ‘voila’ a short(er) article appears.
Interesting.
I think you got my main point.
Don’t beat yourself up for ‘being stressed’ or misinterpret it.
Sometimes it just means you are a good, caring, human being.
Give yourself a pat on the back and keep making the world a better place.
With a caveat that you still need to maintain awareness of your stress levels and ensure they don’t get too high, for too long, before you reach out for help.
So keep caring.
Know there is a cost.
But, in the end, I think it is worth it.
Give yourself a pat on the back today for being a bit stressed because you CARE, and step into the rest of the week with your head held high.
Take care
Carl
PS: Have you read or listened to this book yet, which is available everywhere? 18 Ways We Make Life WAY Harder Than It Needs To Be
PPS: To read more of my tips, tools and strategies, visit my BLOG here.
PPPS: Please reach out anytime and let me know if you any questions or requested topics, or you need a helping hand with a significant change (or some beliefs / stories challenged). And please SHARE or FORWARD this article to friends and family, if you think it might help.
Quotable QUOTE:
“It is okay to feel some stress, when we are doing or delivering something, as it actually means we CARE, which makes us a good human being.” Carl Massy
(Author of 18 Ways We Make Life WAY Harder Than It Needs To Be)
PS: Have you read or listened to this book yet? 18 Ways We Make Life WAY Harder Than It Needs To Be
