Blogger: Rachelle Gardner
We all face times when seemingly negative feelings—stress, impatience, nervousness—affect our ability to perform at our best, or simply rob us of our peace. But what if we could turn this around? What if those same feelings could actually be positive, or at least wield less negative influence?
Research reported by the Association for Psychological Science indicates that in a stressful situation, simply telling ourselves that our stress is good for us can change its effect on us. In experiments, people who were giving a speech (stressful for many people) were more confident and less anxious when they were instructed to focus on the value of stress in high-level performance. Others who were taking a stressful and high-stakes exam performed better when they were told that their nervous stomachs and pumping hearts were known to improve, not worsen, performance.
Simply telling ourselves that our stress is good for us can change our state of mind and our performance. I wonder how we could change our day-to-day experience by applying this in our lives. For example:
You’re impatient for results: Value your impatience. Acknowledge that it keeps you on your toes. Accept it as a normal part of your process, something to live with, not fight with. Maybe this way you can make peace with your impatience and not have it feel like a negative force.
You’re nervous meeting agents, editors, or other people you perceive as important: Tell yourself that your symptoms of nervousness are tools that will help you present yourself well and make a positive impression. Remind yourself, “Nervousness is good! It will help me perform at my best!”
You’re stressed about a presentation or public speaking event: Tell yourself that butterflies in your stomach and a racing heart are symptoms that are known to improve public speaking performance.
You’re anxious because you have so much to accomplish and so little time: Recognize your anxiety as exactly the stimulus you need to be as productive as possible, and embrace it as a motivator.
What do you think? Are these strategies worth a try? Do you think they’ll work?
TWEETABLES:
Your anxieties can actually help you perform better! Here’s how. Click to Tweet.
What if stress, impatience, and nervousness could actually be positive and help us perform better? Click to Tweet.
Image copyright: / 123RF Stock Photo
Shirlee Abbott
For me, life without stress would be unproductive. It’s the stress of the schedule and the to-do list that get me out of bed and off the couch.
When I was in grad school, a fellow student said she was stressed out waiting for the grade on her research project. To me, that was misplaced stress. The stress should be related to completing the task. Once the project was in the professor’s hands, I’d call that tension “worry” not “stress” — and totally unproductive.
Hannah Vanderpool
I agree, Shirlee. While I can see how nerves that come just before, or in the act of, doing something be might be helpful (extra blood flow, adrenaline, increased focus), I cannot believe nerves or anxiety are good for anything over which a person has no control. Jesus told us to be anxious for nothing, but instead to give our concerns to God. I think a more helpful response when we are tempted to be nervous (again, in times where we aren’t actually ‘performing’) would be to practice giving our concerns to God, and developing a tolerance for being out of control.
Sheila King
Hannah, you are so right.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
There is a peace that comes when you train yourself to 1) do your very best 2) let go and know that it is now out of your hands.
Each time I send a query I trust in God’s timing and his guiding hand on my life. I certainly would not want success in writing if it meant I was missing God’s higher calling for me (whatever that may be!).
I sort of look at it this way: Every day I wake up and show up for duty. I don’t get to decide what that duty is, but I know I will be blessed if I seek it and obey. What else is worth living for?
Meghan Carver
You are so right, Shirlee, and thank you for pointing out so clearly the differences. Stress is good for me as well, but worry is my difficulty.
Rachelle Gardner
I like your perspective, Shirlee. Especially “misplaced stress.” Nice distinction!
John Wells
To paraphrase a common saying, “Stress happens!” As far as worry goes, the definition of worry is imagined fear. Concern is appropriate PRIOR to an event when you have control; afterwards it’s inappropriate and a waste of energy. Anticipation of a stressful event is normal, and the ways different persons handle it is too variant to generalize. Certain people remain calm under stress (Think of Tom Brady, NE Patriots QB, managing a drive to score a winning TD in the final minutes of a play-off game, and you get the picture.) Also think of a well-know politician blurting out “What does it matter?” when she was facing stress shows the other extreme.
The better question is how to prepare ourselves for stress. The best answer I’ve found is prayer. Personally, I thank God for giving me strength to handle whatever stress comes my way. Sometimes He says yes; sometimes, no. But I can remain calm regardless of how things turn out.
Rachelle Gardner
So true, John. How to prepare ourselves for stress? Prayer is the best way.
Jeanne Takenaka
I admit, I haven’t been the best at mastering anxiety. I’ve learned to (most of the time) not hold onto those things over which I have no control. Like Shirlee mentioned.
But stress and its side effects have mastered me in too many situations. The idea of retraining my mind to think about it differently intrigues me. Turning it from a negative to a positive would be a great skill! This is something I want to learn more about.
Thanks for sharing this post, Rachelle, and the link.
Rachelle Gardner
It’s nice to know you can have some control over it, right Jeanne?
Shelli Littleton
I love what everyone has shared here. Shirlee explained the difference between stress and worry so nicely. John … “worry is imagined fear.” The first time I spoke in public, I was completely stressed and worried. The lady over the women’s group took a chance on me, and there were times when I worried I’d let her down (imagined fear). I was so sick the night before … woke up shaking … all nerves, I suppose. But that morning, though I was nervous, my mind had never been more clear. There was no way I could have forgotten my material (my fears) … I was hi-fiving God afterwards, don’t you know?! 🙂 But I’ve never looked at stress as being good … always wondered why I had it and some didn’t seem to. So thank you for that positive note. Beth Moore says she still gets butterflies … that is huge encouragement.
I’ll say the worst part of public speaking is that a meal always comes before my speaking. And I can’t eat … can’t have food heavy on my stomach. So I always miss the good meal. 🙁
Rachelle Gardner
Well, to be fair Shelli, the meal isn’t always “good.” So you might not be missing much. 🙂
Richard Mabry
Years ago I knew a physician who’d never write a paper or book chapter until it was almost due–he said he worked better under the stress of having a deadline creeping up on him. Somehow, that’s never worked for me, but I suppose it does for some people. Thanks for sharing these tips, Rachelle.
Shelli Littleton
Richard, I don’t think that would work well for me either because small words and phrases to improve my work seem to dribble into my mind over the weeks and months following completion. 🙂 I could turn the project in, but I would always know it could have been better.
Lori Benton
Same with me, Richard. I do my worst creative work under stress. I was the child who went home with an assignment for a paper due in a week and had the first draft written asap (that very night if possible), so I could do at least three drafts (which seemed sufficient to me then). My work habits haven’t really changed much (aside from the hugely inflated number of edits/drafts/polishings). I can pull off last minute writing/marketing/promo when an opportunity comes to me last minute, but it’s never by my choice. 🙂
Jeanne Takenaka
Lori, I wish my boys followed your method! 😉
Jeanne Takenaka
I confess, some of my best undergrad papers were written the night before they were due. Not the smartest way of operating. And with life now filled with hubby and active boys, I must plan ahead. And, it does alleviate stress when I do so, also. 🙂
Rachelle Gardner
I think a lot of people work better under pressure. To each his own!
Melinda Ickes
Stress and nervousness shut me down at worst, or turn my focus to other matters at the least. Embracing anxiety as a motivator, as the last point mentions, is what I know I need to work on. Thanks for sharing this information, Rachelle.
Rachelle Gardner
It’s hard to simply reframe anxiety as a motivator, but I think it’s worth trying!
Shelli Littleton
Rachelle … “make your anxieties work for you” … you aren’t going to say “April Fools” … are you?!! 🙂 Do you remember Wendy’s April Fools post last year. I really fell for it.
I’m trying to think of how I can get my girls today!
Jeanne Takenaka
Shelli, I was remembering Wendy’s April Fool’s from last year too. 🙂 I’m not very creative when it comes to pulling pranks. Sigh.
Rachelle Gardner
Sorry, I forgot it was even April 1st. 🙁
Kristen Joy Wilks
What has helped for me is to be nervous and stressed and still meet with that agent or editor. Maybe I did badly, but I survived, and the next time is a little better and then a little better still until when I am stressed out to try and pitch I remember how much I have improved and know that I will survive this time as well.
Rachelle Gardner
Practice makes perfect, right? Or something like that. 🙂
Elissa
I think it’s always a good idea to turn negatives into positives. Maybe it won’t help every time, but I don’t see how it can every hurt. Thanks for the tips, Rachelle. 🙂
Sue Harrison
I love this idea!! I’m definitely going to use it!
Rachelle Gardner
Glad you liked it, Sue. And it’s always nice to see you here! 🙂
Keli Gwyn
When my debut novel released, I was busier than the theater popcorn maker during intermission. By telling myself I was experiencing stress of the most positive kind, I was able to focus on the positive aspects of that milestone event. The shift in thinking really helped.
Rachelle Gardner
Exactly what I was talking about, Keli! Kudos for taking that approach.
Jeanette Hanscome
This is such great advice, Rachelle! While at Mount Hermon it really hit me how nervous I get before talking to editors and even my own wonderful agent. I have a terrible tendency to slip into a state of inferiority, which I know is unhealthy, and God really helped me push past that this year. However, I never want to lose touch with the reality that I am meeting with a professional and want to present myself accordingly. I had to learn the same lesson as a singer and speaker, and even way back when I used to perform in plays–that nerves give us a much-needed rush of energy and keep us on our toes. In fact, if I am about to speak, teach, or sing I get nervous if I’m NOT nervous.
Rachelle Gardner
Right, Jeanette, I agree! I’m much more worried if I’m NOT nervous. That might mean I’m not on my game.
James Sanders
I guess this is along the same lines. Recently, when I get to work and find out things are not going well for whatever reason, I just say to myself, “Good, I’m glad.” And then I just go ahead and start my day. It’s much better than getting stressed or getting upset, which takes away positive energy.
Rachelle Gardner
Ha! I like that response! I’m going to try it.
James Sanders
Honestly, dealing with stress at a job is easy as long as a person knows they are giving it their all. (yeah right)
After that, if something doesn’t get done it just doesn’t get done, and there is no need stressing over it. At least that’s how I (attempt to) deal with it.
But then I am not a literary agent!
Greta Boris
The first and the last especially resonate with me. I tell myself when I’m impatient to trust the process. Maybe I’m not ready for an agent, more publicity, a bigger magazine assignment… fill in the blank. Maybe I need to grow in my craft before I’m ready.
Then number 4 gets me. But, there’s so little time!
Rachelle Gardner
Greta, it always helps me when I remind myself that I have the exact same amount of time in every day, week & month as everyone else. Stops me from the whining about so little time!
Peter DeHaan
When I experience the stress of a heavy workload, I am able to accomplish so much in a short time. Then a few days later, when the stress is gone, it seems like it takes me twice as long to do half as much!
Karen
Thanks for the very useful information. My teenage son is currently working on a proposal that deals with stress. I need to tell him to take a look at this. Heck, I needed this too.
Elizabeth Allen
I appreciate tho idea a lot! I know stress can be good and bad, but its still stress from a Fibromyalgia viewpoint and management of stress is critical to reduce the effects of the disease on the entire body, mind, spirit bundle. From your direction the same stress might become tempered to alleviate some of the damaging effects for stress-related disease and to utilize this dynamic energy from stress that can motivate, focus, increase response times, and support the experience stress results from. I often tend to gloss over the stress and put it on a backburner hoping to ignore it uncomfortably and muddle through some of the stressor activities, but as you point out, the real power of strength is reorganizing our perspective and reframing our attitudes and thought process to digest stress just as we do nutritional components and acquire improved health from the consumption of stress as a supplemental package with all the various elements which comprise its potential force for our benefits! Thank you!
تست جوش
ok/ thanks
درب ضد سرقت
thankss