No pressure, no diamonds!

No pressure, no diamonds! There is so much truth in this saying?and yet?the past?hundred years?of human history?have been about increasing human comfort,?stress reduction, doing things easier, quicker and faster.

Here is what might seem a strange notion to consider:?We have to re-engineer stress back into our lives on purpose, from time to time, and lean into the discomfort it brings in order to stimulates growth and learning.?

According to Dr Andy Galpin,?Executive Director of the Human Performance Centre at Parker University,?we have been so successful at seeking comfort that no-one knows how to deal with stress anymore. Stress is necessary. We learn and grow when there is enough pressure and tension in our lives.

I believe that the first year of life is a really good example of the importance of stress for growth and learning. A baby spends nine months in utero in the foetal position, floating in water. They then spend the first year of life pushing up against gravity which is no mean feat.?Curiosity trumps discomfort!

Human curiosity drives the shift?from a baby lying on its back, rolling over onto its tummy, pushing up on it's arms into the sitting position, crawling, standing up and walking. This curiosity is the desire to see more, experience more, look around the corner and see what’s behind or beyond.

What is going to get you off the couch and make you choose a bit of voluntary discomfort so you can expand your experience of life??

The Comfort Crisis:?Embrace Discomfort To Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self,?by Michael Easter, asserts that in many ways we’re more comfortable than ever before. Surely we must be on track to the world of happiness, fulfilment and tranquility? Wrong.

It turns out that scientists are finding that our sheltered, temperature-controlled, overfed, underchallenged lives might actually be the leading cause of many our most urgent physical and mental health issues.

How curious are you being about your life? Are you stuck in a comfort zone?

Perhaps this is the year to be a bit more more curious about pressure and tension. Intentionally embrace discomfort ,from time to time,?for what it can enable or teach you.?

Not all stress is bad for you. In fact, without it, nothing would ever be achieved.?This is by no means an invitation to become an intentionally stressed out bunny but,?sometimes a bit of a stretch out of your comfort zone is necessary.

Remember: no pressure, no diamonds!

Have an empowered week.

Popular new talk for 2025 strikes a chord:

GETTING UNSTUCK

Everyone has moments when they feel stuck, frozen, trapped or unable to move forward. It’s far more common than having a midlife or quarter life crisis. It happens to everyone, even you.

Getting stuck is not the problem. Staying stuck is.

Stuckness raises fear and anxiety which reduces productivity and engagement at both work and life. You need to help everyone in your organisation to identify stuckness and deal with it swiftly to counteract its pervasive impact in a world where so much feels out of control of the individual.

This presentation is suitable for people at every level of your organisation, from top to bottom.

By turning fear into curiosity, everyone in your team will be able to take responsibility for getting unstuck as well as taking the necessary action using Nikki’s fresh insights and practical framework. Empower your staff?to shift their perception of being stuck inside the box to having a new perspective, allowing them to stand on top of the box

Getting stuck is not the problem; it’s part of work and life. Staying stuck is.

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"Nikki has a way of getting the most out of people and maximising their true potential through her presentations. It was a pleasure working with her."?Elizabeth Korban, Executive Operations Support, General Electric Power

"Nikki, your energy enters the room before you do. Your presence fills the room before you speak."?Peggy Brown, Chairperson, Coastal Principals Association, KZN