Resilient Seeker Coaching | Ross Raymond Nunamaker

What is stress? At a base level, stress is a state when an individual perceives a challenge to their well-being. The amount or intensity of the stress is based on the anticipated negative  consequences, the greater the negative, the higher the stress.

Stress is a natural response for survival related to fight or flight. It alerts us of a potential threat.

It was designed as an emotion to elicit an immediate response to an immediate threat and have it resolved.

Most of what we today refer to as stress and is considered stress is not of the same nature.

One way to understand the stresses in our life is by asking the question, “what keeps you up at night, why?”

These are typically not fight or flight response issues, instead they are more focused on job security, paying bills, managing competing interests, scheduling conflicts.

Since they are not of the original type of stress, they shouldn’t be considered in the same way.

For me, stress, anxiety and worry are first assessed by control. If I have no control, then I will not be anxious, worried or stressed about it.

Yes, I turn it off. I don’t allow myself to be overwhelmed by it or waste energy on it.

What is left are those things wholly within my control and those that I can partially control or influence.

After this exercise, what is left? Severity of consequence.

For severity of consequence consider the worst case, best case and most important, the most likely consequence.

With this you can prioritize your stressors from most important to least.

Now it is time to create a plan of action for each stressor.

Having a plan to reduce or eliminate the stressor and putting it in place should nullify your worry and anxiety.

So long as you are working toward the solution in a deliberate and intentional manner there is no need for stress. You are aware of the threat. You understand the threat. You have a plan to eradicate the threat. There is no longer a need for stress.

Stress is natural. What we call stress today is manageable when addressed properly.

Having a coach work through this process with you and be there during implementation is foundational to reducing stress and improving your well-being. After all, the goal should not be to be okay, but to flourish.