Samantha was so obviously stressed during our coaching call, we could feel it through the phone. She was as tight as a guitar string.
“What’s got you wound so tight?” we asked.
“Getting customers. Figuring out how to get them to come back again. Picking up the phone and calling. Asking for the sale. What prices to put on my products and services. How to do everything without any team. How to wedge in my family, friends and even some fun.”
Samantha isn’t alone. You might be stressing out just thinking about these things, too.
Some stress can certainly move your business along. But too much stress, or unmanaged stress, damages not only your business, it also inflicts harm on you.
Solo-preneurs, small business owners and entrepreneurs all over are busy raising their blood pressure, losing sleep and building a reliable bank of anxiety.
How to manage this beast we live with?
I just found a research report about reducing stress. The report, from our esteemed experts at the University of Wisconsin, Florida State and Stanford, says you must transform your relationship with stress (didn’t know you had a relationship, did you?).
The people they witnessed fell into two camps: those who believed their high stress level was unhealthy; and people who believed their high stress level was normal.
Here’s the kicker…this is interesting…those who believed high stress is a normal part of life reported more meaningful lives!
So your attitude about stress could actually be your friend, a useful tool in your business and life!
Here are their recommendations for creating a meaningful relationship with your former nemesis, stress:
Shift your perspective
Absorb this as your new story about stress–it means your life is more meaningful. You feel stressed because you care about your business, your prospects, your customers, results, income, family, friends…and you.
Master mindfulness
Stop and notice how you’re feeling in the moment; after acknowledging the situation, focus your attention on addressing it. Pay attention to where you are, what you’re doing and what you’re feeling in that moment.
Now you get to develop your “new” story.
You’re strong. You’re resilient. You’re good with stress.
You’re successful.
When you believe stress has a purpose in your life, you can harness its energy as a positive.
Go forth and do great things,
