Stress Management Is Easy(ish)

Stress is a killer. Literally. It will sap your energy. It will slow your progress. It will effect everything around you. Worrying about what may or may not come is not healthy. Sure, it is inevitable but worry leads to stress which leads to bad health.

For much of my early career, I was a ball of stress. I would worry if I would move up the ladder, if I could juggle school and work and life, if I had what it takes to be successful. I would stress on the things that are out of my control such as other people's contributions to projects, "what if" scenarios that likely (mostly) will never happen, and life (friends, family, women, bills, etc.). The stress led to my health suffering and I would break out in hives and got Bell's Palsy twice. If you have ever had Bell's Palsy or have known anyone who has, you know that it is horrible and often not something most people fully recover from. That caused even more stress because you think, "Will I be like this forever?" and think about how half a face being paralyzed will effect your future. I was (am) in sales and that fear is real.

So there I was, stressed to the point of facial paralyzation a second time. I was feeling bad about myself and "knowing" that this time was permanent. I was not exercising. I was eating like garbage. I was not performing at work because I was so self conscious. I was a mess.

I had read many self-help books and motivational quotes but none of that helped. The perception and reaction to my circumstances were mine to have and nothing was going to change that but me. So my amazing and supportive stronger-than-me wife gave me the pep talk I needed that helped form the basis of my personal outlook on life, "Be as good as you can as often as you can".

BE AS GOOD AS YOU CAN AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN.

Sounds simple right?

It is actually hard as hell to do. The stress and worry and responsibility and workload increases daily. Expectations that are placed upon us grow by the minute. Stress seems natural with all of this. You need to really focus on not worrying or stressing things outside your control or placing added stress on yourself.

I adopted this outlook and focused on the things I can control and the stress diminished greatly. Multiple massages and accupuncture sessions helped too. My face started to get feeling and movement back in it after about 3 months of treatment and stress relief. Life was getting back on track and my self esteem was back.

The new outlook on life has proven to be a key factor in the reduction of stress  and helps with all areas of life.

• I eat healthy as often as possible and don't stress on what to eat. There is no binge diet or worry about weight. I am conscious of where I want to be and act accordingly as often as I can. The choice is mine and does not need to be stressed about.
• I exercise as often as I can. I don't hate myself when I can't get to the gym or skip a day or week. Things happen and we all get off track. I know I need to get back on track and know where I want to be.
• At work, I do all I can and work as hard as I can. Then I go home and focus on things other than work whenever possible. Yes, things come up after work hours that require attention but they are now the exception and not the rule.

The result of the new mantra is a healthier me, a stronger marriage, a more successful and rewarding career, and work life balance. I don't sweat the stuff outside my control and don't kill myself trying to be and do everything for everyone. Be as good as you can as often as you can. The rest works itself out.