I am about to pack my suitcase to travel to Novosibirsk – the capital of Western Siberia – to conduct corporate coaching workshops.

One of the reoccurring topics for any coaching (I am sure you won’t be surprised) is STRESS.

Stress is your body’s way of responding to any kind of demand. 

The word “stress” is derived from the Latin stringere (to draw tight). It is not the emotion but a bodily response. It can be caused by both good and bad experiences. When people feel stressed by something going on around them, their bodies respond to the real or imagined danger and sympathetic nervous system unleashes a chain reaction.

All those reactions were important for a man’s survival in the bronze age. A man saw a danger – the flow of blood from the stomach increased and went up to shoulders, neck and then brain. Thinking was clearer for 20 minutes.

On the chemical level – cortisol was released into the blood, which made blood thicker, and resulted in excess energy, ready for the fight. The man was on maximum alert, all his physical and mental resources were mobilised to find the solution to the situation – fight or flight. Thinking – black and white.

And he could fight or flight.

Now we are in the modern world and playing by different rules with the same chemical reactions playing havoc with our bodies.

When you understand the cause of your internal stress, you can manage it better or eliminate some of it altogether.

There are THINKING ERRORS, which you can adjust and empower yourself by being more confident in managing your world.

All or Nothing. Thinking is black and white rather than any other colours or tones.

Example: “I have to be 100% perfect” “I always make mistakes” “I’ll never get the hang of it”

Solution: Just be “good enough”. Pursuing perfection all the time can lead to failure.

Labelling. This is when we attach negative labels to ourselves.

Example: “I am useless. I am failure. I am not the sort of person who can cope with all of this. I am so unlucky”

Solution: Look at all the things in life you’ve succeeded. Put them on the list (3-5 minimum – You have it!). Approve of yourself.

I should / I must / I can’t. This is when we set unrealistic standards for ourselves.

Example: “I should be able to cope with all this work”. “I must do better his time” “I can’t handle this”

Solution: Consider preferences – “I prefer…” You’ll gain freedom by thinking in a flexible way.

So good luck in practising those methods.

There are more to come… but my suitcase is empty… should take a few items to Siberia just in case. Oops I prefer!!!