You know how the Ice Bucket challenge has taken the world by storm with people connecting, having fun and raising over $100 million in donations. That dwarfs any fundraising effort that ALS Association (ALSA) has ever conducted. Donations for a given year have usually totaled $64 million, so raising $100 million from July 29th to August 29th is truly phenomenal. For me, I think it's important to note that the ALSA didn't even launch the challenge. It began as a grassroots effort by two individuals impacted by the disease. And while I mean no disrespect to ALSA, I think the Challenge is proof that passion and stress are the magic ingredients. No matter how much passion someone has for their job or even family, it's when there's a combination of these two that things really happen.
 
Years ago I had the opportunity to hear an expert on stress management who advocated that stress is a good thing. Boy that got the room of professionals' attention! This man was a trainer of top athletes and while he had a number of fascinating points, the data he had on the positive aspects of why stress is necessary resonated most to this room of leaders. Why? Because he shared with them that stress well managed is a propellant, that when combined with passion, is something to cultivate. Stress combined with passion should be channeled and that is the difference between doing something well and doing something great. And that's my point about the folks who started the Ice Bucket Challenge and the thousands who have participated. I can speak to this personally because when our office was challenged, those that took up the challenge (yes, some didn't and that's ok) were enthusiastic about the planning, doing and the sharing of the experience. They came together and while there was probably a little stress about hanging out on a balcony and not knowing what it would feel like or how they would react when the bucket of ice came down, they were energized. 

The Ice Bucket Challenge addresses a lot of things. There's the fear of what it's going to feel like, (clearly this isn't something you practice). There's being uncomfortable, because at first you're cold and then soaking wet. And then there's the fact that most of us don't like the unnerving feeling being on film. Of course, all of these things pale compared to having or knowing someone who has ALS, and that's part of the impact of the "the challenge." Wow, so many lessons in such a simple act. It's profound isn't it?

 

ALS families are reacting to the Ice Bucket Challenge as a breath of joy and laughter in an otherwise joyless journey, and that alone is amazing. That's one of the secrets to managing stress - finding ways to laugh and deepen satisfaction of the little things that you enjoy. So without sounding like I'm advocating some copycat initiative or gimmick because rightfully so, I think people will say "Been there, done that," I think it's important to take away some lessons learned and to see how in some small way you can replicate the success of the Challenge. Applying the fact that with focused direction, intended humor and passion, the toughest things can be tackled and successes gained. Negatively used stress is bad, we know that. But I think we sometimes forget it's a strong propellant towards really great things. So how about it? Can you think of ways to channel your stress for your health and success and for those around you? And if you send me links to any Ice Bucket Challenges you've done, that would be great!