John S. Gordon - Business and Personal Coach

"You have the greatness and the power.  I just help you turn on the switch."

Welcome to Issue 165.  If you did not receive a previous issue, you may use the archive link below to view it now.  The mission of "Marvelous Mondays" is to offer an inspirational thought, a practical exercise, some humor, or a simple tip to jump-start your week and to enhance your life, business, outlook or relationships. 

Please feel free to forward "Marvelous Mondays" to others who will enjoy it.

THE BODY'S REACTION TO STRESS

The fight or flight response to stress is our body's reaction to what is perceived as a threat. The fabled saber toothed tiger was a real threat to primitive man whose body reacted by pumping fresh blood and oxygen to the muscles so he could escape the tiger by running fast.

CHALLENGE STRESS OR THREAT STRESS 

The hormones that result from stress can be helpful to us if the stress is not too severe or too prolonged. After observing professional entertainers and performers, psychologists made the distinction between a CHALLENGE STRESS and a THREAT STRESS. Some singers routinely have nausea attacks before taking the stage and then give an outstanding performance. Other performers like dancers, athletes, and actors describe their pre-performance anxiety or stress as a way to keep them focused. They say it actually stimulates them to achieve their greatest performances. We will see this played out in the summer Olympics, when athletes will respond to a CHALLENGE STRESS by achieving personal bests or even world records that seemed beyond their capacity.

Researcher Dr. Abelson says, "The neural system that defines what we call anticipatory anxiety-the ability to predict possible negative consequences and prepare for them by worrying-shares circuitry with but also has separate pathways from the circuitry that drives fear itself. Engaging the anxiety pathway but hitting the brakes before reaching the panic cliff is what allows performers to be nervous before going on and then do just fine once they're onstage-and STORE THAT LESSON FOR ALL THE SUBSEQUENT TIMES they'll face an audience. This holds for other, higher-stakes professions too."

It's also helpful to know that we sometimes we miscategorzie a situation by calling it stress when it's really just EXCITEMENT. 

First you can decide if it's stress or excitement.  If it's stress, you can choose how to respond. Whether you feel stress is not as important as how you react. Researches tells us that those who perceive they have the resources to cope with stress will find ways to react effectively.

EXERCISE

This week I invite you to do the following:

1.     Observe situations where you experience stress.  Is it stress or excitement?

2.     If it's stress, remember you have a decision how you choose to react.  

        Evaluate  your RESOURCES to see how you can cope effectively. 

3.     Here are some examples of stressful situations where you could practice this technique:

• Presentations, public speaking, or reports
• Conflict or confrontation with family member, supervisor, employee
• Meeting deadlines
• Preparing your taxes or finding ways to pay your taxes 
• Health issues
• Career issues
• Finance issues

1.     Let me know if you have renamed some situation by recognizing it as excitement rather than

        stress.

2.     I really want to hear your challenges and successes in making stress your friend this week.

3.     I have experience in coaching people how to effectively react to stress and to reduce their 

        sense of overwhelm. The techniques I use work and can be life changing. I am available to

        assist and work with you as your RESOURCE.  Please call me to discuss.  I look forward to

        listening to you.

  

Actress and comedian Sarah Bernhardt once told a young protégée who claimed not to have stage fright, "Don't worry. It comes with talent. "

                   **John is currently accepting a few new coaching clients.**

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