Determine Your Tipping Point: When Productive Stress Becomes Destructive Stress
Posted: 12.08.2015
By Marlene George, Health, Wellness, Business Mentor
When does dancing become drudgery? When does laughter turn into tears? When does play become work? Every human activity follows a bell curve between pleasure and pain, from happy to sad, from anticipation to anxiety.
Philosophers tell us if you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life. That is a lovely sentiment, but even if you are pursuing your passion on your job, some days are more enjoyable than others. The defining difference is the amount of good stress when compared to the amount of distress occurring during your work day. What can start out as a promising, productive 10 hours can quickly turn into a hectic, frantic dash between phone calls, messages, messaging, meetings, and playing catch-up.
Some of us thrive on busyness, interruptions, and changes - while others prefer the steady, reliable stream of activity throughout the day. All of us have a tipping point when the pace of events and activities outstrips our ability to cope with it. It's at that point when our performance slips, our production becomes uneven, and mistakes happen. The bottom line: identify your personal tipping point, and then take a simple step to return yourself to the stimulating stress state BEFORE you slide down to the distracted, distressful side of the curve.
The Tortoise and the Hare...
Eustress, a term coined in 1975 by endocrinologist Hans Selye, refers to the positive physical functions occurring when we perceive something as pleasant, fun, or challenging. Eustress is pressure affecting our heart rate, breathing, muscle tension, and focus in the most productive way. These effects create a highly stimulated, productive human being, regardless of the work he or she does. With these heightened physical reactions, our body, mind and spirit perform at the top of our game…for a while.
Some of us are sprinters, hares, who get the job done faster, yet run out of energy sooner than our turtle counterparts. The long distance movers, tortoises, will experience the same physical and mental effects of Eustress, but will measure their progress in inches rather than miles during the same time period. Regardless of who arrives at the finish line first, there will always be an ending to the inspired, energetic performance when the line between Eustress and distress is crossed.
After the Apex...
When positive stress reaches the tipping point, the apex of the bell curve, gravity takes over and the distress causes the downward slide into disorganization, depression, and dis-ease. The previous productivity, enhanced by eager anticipation and the joy of accomplishment, disappears with the appearance of the negative kind of stress. Dis-ease means more than the physical manifestation of illness or disease. Dis-ease involves the entire person and affects every aspect of their personal and professional lives. Negative stress, harmful stress, and debilitating stress causes disintegration of our performance and productivity on the job. It also leaks into our personal lives, causing short tempers, tension in our relationships, and general despair. Living and working under the cloud of distress darkens our days, diminishes our effectiveness, and deters our progress.
Tap into Your Tipping Point...
To take advantage of your eustress and avoid the downward slide into distress, the first step is to identify your personal tipping point. Do this by increasing your awareness of your body's physical reactions to stress. Notice where your tension appears:
Breathe!
When you consciously inhale, you attract the benefits of fresh, clean, invigorating air into your brain and your body. Drawing new air into your system inspires you to go beyond your expectations for the outcome of your efforts. Your vision becomes your reality.
When you exhale, you release the detriments to your performance caused by distress.
It's all about awareness. Pay attention to your physical symptoms of stress to determine your unique tipping point.
For the past 21 years Marlene has operated a full-time holistic (wholistic) healing practice from her home in Brampton, Ontario. Marlene has also done wellness retreats acting as an inspirational speaker and personal coach to corporate and private groups in Canada, the USA and also exotic locations such as Mexico and Africa. Marlene George has also authored books and CDs teaching her wellness principles based on the universal Law of Attraction. Marlene George has inspired many in radio and television interviews.
Contact Marlene George: Email: mgeorge@marlenegeorge.com Phone: 905-796-0101 Skype: Marlene.George2 Web: www.marlenegeorge.com
When does dancing become drudgery? When does laughter turn into tears? When does play become work? Every human activity follows a bell curve between pleasure and pain, from happy to sad, from anticipation to anxiety.
Philosophers tell us if you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life. That is a lovely sentiment, but even if you are pursuing your passion on your job, some days are more enjoyable than others. The defining difference is the amount of good stress when compared to the amount of distress occurring during your work day. What can start out as a promising, productive 10 hours can quickly turn into a hectic, frantic dash between phone calls, messages, messaging, meetings, and playing catch-up.
Some of us thrive on busyness, interruptions, and changes - while others prefer the steady, reliable stream of activity throughout the day. All of us have a tipping point when the pace of events and activities outstrips our ability to cope with it. It's at that point when our performance slips, our production becomes uneven, and mistakes happen. The bottom line: identify your personal tipping point, and then take a simple step to return yourself to the stimulating stress state BEFORE you slide down to the distracted, distressful side of the curve.
The Tortoise and the Hare...
Eustress, a term coined in 1975 by endocrinologist Hans Selye, refers to the positive physical functions occurring when we perceive something as pleasant, fun, or challenging. Eustress is pressure affecting our heart rate, breathing, muscle tension, and focus in the most productive way. These effects create a highly stimulated, productive human being, regardless of the work he or she does. With these heightened physical reactions, our body, mind and spirit perform at the top of our game…for a while.
Some of us are sprinters, hares, who get the job done faster, yet run out of energy sooner than our turtle counterparts. The long distance movers, tortoises, will experience the same physical and mental effects of Eustress, but will measure their progress in inches rather than miles during the same time period. Regardless of who arrives at the finish line first, there will always be an ending to the inspired, energetic performance when the line between Eustress and distress is crossed.
After the Apex...
When positive stress reaches the tipping point, the apex of the bell curve, gravity takes over and the distress causes the downward slide into disorganization, depression, and dis-ease. The previous productivity, enhanced by eager anticipation and the joy of accomplishment, disappears with the appearance of the negative kind of stress. Dis-ease means more than the physical manifestation of illness or disease. Dis-ease involves the entire person and affects every aspect of their personal and professional lives. Negative stress, harmful stress, and debilitating stress causes disintegration of our performance and productivity on the job. It also leaks into our personal lives, causing short tempers, tension in our relationships, and general despair. Living and working under the cloud of distress darkens our days, diminishes our effectiveness, and deters our progress.
Tap into Your Tipping Point...
To take advantage of your eustress and avoid the downward slide into distress, the first step is to identify your personal tipping point. Do this by increasing your awareness of your body's physical reactions to stress. Notice where your tension appears:
- In your shoulders
- In your neck
- In your stomach
- In your throat
- In your head
Breathe!
When you consciously inhale, you attract the benefits of fresh, clean, invigorating air into your brain and your body. Drawing new air into your system inspires you to go beyond your expectations for the outcome of your efforts. Your vision becomes your reality.
When you exhale, you release the detriments to your performance caused by distress.
It's all about awareness. Pay attention to your physical symptoms of stress to determine your unique tipping point.
For the past 21 years Marlene has operated a full-time holistic (wholistic) healing practice from her home in Brampton, Ontario. Marlene has also done wellness retreats acting as an inspirational speaker and personal coach to corporate and private groups in Canada, the USA and also exotic locations such as Mexico and Africa. Marlene George has also authored books and CDs teaching her wellness principles based on the universal Law of Attraction. Marlene George has inspired many in radio and television interviews.
Contact Marlene George: Email: mgeorge@marlenegeorge.com Phone: 905-796-0101 Skype: Marlene.George2 Web: www.marlenegeorge.com
