How do you know if pressure is eating you up? How do you know if you’re embracing it positively and using it to achieve your end goal in life?
The normal connotation of the word “pressure” is usually negative because of its exceptionally negative feeling and vibe. Who would love pressure, anyway? Pressure at work, career, and life–these are the closest to pressure and stress.
Many would prefer not to feel pressure in any given situation if given a choice, but can we refrain from feeling it? However, it gives a different feeling when you use it effectively in your career path and self-growth–the drive and inspiration it can give.
A historian named Thomas Carlyle once said, “no pressure, no diamonds,” meaning a diamond won’t be able to reach its full potential if it hasn’t started as a lump of coal. Similarly, without pressure, our life journey won’t be complete, and our achievements will be dull. Pressure is created to put excitement and color into our lives. It depends on you if you will let pressure eat you or hone you.
The following correct dose of pressure will help you healthily handle pressure. Here’s how:
1. Character over comfort
It’s easy for us to choose easy and relaxing situations over stressful, pressure-feeling circumstances, and it’s normal. However, you have to welcome episodes of pressure and stress to push you through life, help you endure life’s challenges, and help you grow as a person.
Embracing the possibilities of discomfort and learning how to handle and conquer it may require some time, but it’s all worth it. Pain demands to be felt. Challenges and problems are always there to bring pain, joy, and excitement to life. The best feeling is when you strive to grow amidst the discomfort and pressure. You just did the most rewarding outcome—hard work and patience.
2. Training the muscle
Working and managing pressure is like training the muscles or going to the gym. It gets easier with practice and discipline.
If running or walking helps you out when you’re stressed or pressured, then do it. It’s like, you’ll attain more pain and tiredness, but the reward is greater than the pain you’re feeling right now. Putting yourself in an uneasy position will only serve you in the long run, especially when you progress.
If you can find a way to embrace and feel the moments when it feels like the pressure is coming into you, it will get easier since you’ve trained yourself to feel uncomfortable first before fulfillment. When it feels overwhelming, it will get easier the more often you feel it since you’ll need more muscle when facing stress or pressure. Get some muscle exercise now!
3. Managing pressure
While you’re learning to face pressure and do better in your life, you still need to learn how to manage pressure. Different people have different tactics, but what’s common is recognizing the adrenaline that comes with the feeling of it. Instead of thinking about what could go wrong, start thinking about what could go right or think about what could go wrong, assess it, and be more prepared to feel and accept it.
The best way to manage pressure is to become comfortable with it. Sometimes, it’s easier to handle pressure if you’re treating it differently. Just like Billie Jean King’s book said, “Pressure is a privilege–it only comes to those who earn it.” Feeling the pressure of life, work, love, and career, among others, is not new to many of us. If it gets difficult, know that it’s supposed to feel that way at first, but it doesn’t have to stop you from achieving your goals and learning to grow and conquer the world.
Many people handle pressure and stress in different methods. Some refuse to face it, some choose to bear the stress and pressure, and some ignore it and go on with life. At that moment, you’ll feel proud when you reach the most rewarding part of conquering the stress and pressure and continue to do so whenever the opportunity comes. Never regret putting yourself under pressure, especially when it helps you grow.
If you embrace good pressure rather than get away from it, you will find self-growth more fulfilling and exciting. What is the correct dose of pressure? You can’t avoid feeling it. Instead, try to accept that pressure and stress are always around. You just have to learn how to handle it. #
