141: How To Really Manage Your Stress At Work
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This week we are going to talk about how to really manage your stress at work. And we are going to be doing it by taking a close look at cognitive science and our own thinking brain.
- Let’s start first with defining something key to this episode; cognitive science
- Cognitive science; the interdisciplinary scientific study of the mind and its processes
- We are talking about this because one thing that is true is that a good majority of our stress is created in the mind
- We have mental computations that occur and result in our cognitive function…or lack thereof.
What
- What is stress: a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances
- Also, to give particular emphasis or importance too and subject to pressure and tension
- Notice, it doesn’t say things like: stress is your car breaking down or your kid coming home with an F in math.
- What “stresses” us is different for every person; the events are different
- And thus, some bold existential philosophers will say things like “all events in life are neutral” and “there are no excuses…we are all responsible.”
- Sounds a bit harsh but yet, also incredibly empowering
- With that, we are now going to look at how the actual meaning that we subscribe to events and the “stories” that we tell ourselves create stress or not
- We are specifically going to bring in the work of Albert Ellis and Byron Katie
- First, we need to perceive that we are under threat; and we’re not talking about a physical one
- Threat to our identity, to the way we thought things “should” be
- So, an event occurs; typically something non-preferred and then we tell ourselves a story about that event
- Enter the work of Albert Ellis and Byron Katie.
- You can find Byron Katie’s work here.
Let us know how you manage your stress and what works for you?
TRYING TO GET YOUR TEAM TO PERFORM BETTER
AND DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START?
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