What I learned from stress...

Is it just me or are we people stressing out more and more? I can't seem to remember my father ever mentioning stress until a few years ago (when he was laid off because the company he worked for went belly up...). It seems as though the further we move into the 21st century the more we want to speed up things (or do we feel we need to because that's the way every one around us is acting?).

There used to be a time (probably before the Industrial Revolution ;-)) when people used to live to work, nowadays people work to live. Although the words are the same this means a totally different way of looking at things... doesn't it? This paradigm shift, along with the Industrial Revolution itself and ongoing technical progress has changed, and is continuing to change, the way people deal with everyday issues.

A wise man once said that nowadays people who deliver good results get poor rewards, people who deliver excellent results reap good rewards and it is only the truly outstanding performers that get what they deserve. It's no longer true that we are only in competition with ourselves, thanks to the globalization we have competition all over the globe (not just in our town or province). We have to prove more and more that we can cope with issues and situations better than our colleagues just to stay on top of the game (i.e. stay employed).

Although we don't like to admit it I imagine most of us suffer from stress every once in a while. There are, however, tips and tricks that will reduce the number of stressful situations significantly. If there is one thing I learned from stress: it always works counterproductive... we need to avoid it at all cost (... now that almost makes avoiding stress sound like something that could produce stress ;-) ...)

Being the type of person I am according to Myers-Briggs (MBTI), that being a very typical INFP, I don't stress out too much. However, because of my natural way of doing things (i.e. always one second before deadline!!!) there have been numerous situations in the past and the present in which I know I could have avoided feeling the pressure of the deadline by simply doing things as they come up!

I recently 'discovered' a very helpful little book by David Allen called Getting Things Done which has changed my life for the better. To all you stressed-out people out there ... buy the book and implement the suggestions a.s.a.p... I know for a fact that it will reduce your stress significantly.

(This post is part of Middle Zone Musing’s What I Learned From Stress group project.)

What I learned from my friends ...

So many friends taught me so many things …

Realizing that different kinds of people tend to look at different situations in different ways is a real eye-opener. This insight becomes even more valuable when you try to see things from the viewpoint of someone else. It is a great way of learning from your friends without them actually having to be present.

There will always be situations in which, when your own views and/or methods have not delivered the result you wished for, it is extremely helpful to think of a friend and ask yourself in what way he (or she) would deal with this. Being able to shift your views in a paradigm fashion ‘using’ friends as inspiration is what helps you in solving all those problems that seem to be insolvable.

In this way so many friends have taught me so many things… and have helped me to grow to an extent I have never thought possible.

(This post is part of Middle Zone Musing’s What I Learned From My Friends group project.)