Are you feeling stressed out? Are you worried about your health, your family, your finances, your performance? When you can feel your heart pounding, your blood pressure rising, this is because your body’s natural fight or flight response is set to On.
I’ve noticed the impact this response can have when I presented in front of a large audience earlier on in my career. I was so prepared but when it came time to perform, I initially drew a blank, I started to fumble for my words but forced myself to go on. Thankfully the body language and feedback I was receiving from the group was supportive and I was able to settle down and deliver.
The body’s stress response was critical for our ancestors to survive and continues to be critical for life and death situations we may face. Unfortunately, our body often misinterprets or overexaggerates the signals we receive, whether it be deadlines we face, the stacking of priorities we’re trying to deal with, or simply trying to perform at our best. When this happens, the release of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone kicks in, which actually hinders our ability to effectively deal with the challenges we are facing! When we’re in a high stress state, part of our body’s response is to conserve and send energy only to the bodily functions necessary for dealing with the life and death situation. This doesn’t bode well for critical thinking, effective problem solving and overall performance.
Compounding the impact, sustaining high levels of stress can lead to:
- Poor sleep
- Body aches and pains
- Decrease in activity level
- Poor diet choices
- Overeating
- High blood pressure
- Racing heartbeat
Increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and obesity.
Fortunately, this gut instinct and our mind are connected, meaning we can recognize when we are experiencing stress, recognize when our body has activated the fight or flight response and we can change the way our body reacts!
I’ve learned to take a moment to:
- recognize what’s behind the stress
- Reflect on why you’re experiencing stress
- and focus on what is within your control to make the situation better.
When presenting I desire to show up at my best and it’s because I care that is leading to the stress response I experience. By shifting my mindset, taking a moment to breath, settle in and change the dialogue I’m experience in my mind to one that is more constructive, allows my body’s energy to be directed to where it’s truly needed to help me perform.
Through recognizing the mind-body connection that exists, consciously changing the way we think when experiencing stress, and focusing on what’s within our control, the body’s stress hormone levels will decrease and allow us to deal with life’s challenges more effectively!