Why Stress Can Be a Good Thing

Stress is a normal response to encountering overwhelm and unknown, and for a business owner or entrepreneur stress is a well recognized (and often unwelcome) companion. Of course stress in significant doses can be a detriment to your health if not managed or treated, but stress can also act as a powerful tool in support of personal and professional growth.
Are you using stress to help you grow personally and professionally? If not you may not be stretching yourself far enough to grow and achieve your goals. For most entrepreneurs and business owners chronic stress is the most common stress experienced, and fortunately if experienced in brief doses, chronic stress can be managed with a proper diet, rest and frequent physical activity.

Aside from the discomfort that stress can bring however, it’s also a sign that we are on the right track. Think of the last time that you achieved something that you felt truly proud of; a significant accomplishment that helped you to reach new heights in your business or on a personal level.

Have you got the image?

Now let me ask you, was there any stress involved in reaching this achievement?

Of course there was, in fact it’s likely that the achievement itself was so rewarding because of the stress and tension that you overcame in it’s pursuit.

When I left my corporate career to launch my consulting business my wife and I had downsized our home and spent over fourteen months saving money in preparation. The entire period was full of anxiety and stress, but I persevered. On the date that I resigned the feeling of accomplishment, satisfaction and pride was overwhelming. In retrospect however it was the constant feeling of stress that confirmed that I was on the right track and  in retrospect it would not have been near as rewarding of not for the stressful events and sleepless nights I had persevered in order to reach that pinnacle point in time.

It was at that point that I realized something.

[Tweet “If stress is managed appropriately, it becomes a means to verify you are on the right track – striving for new successes; stretching yourself to achieve goals that will help you reach your dreams.”]

Of course if you feel over stressed you should seek professional attention, but if you don’t feel any stress at all, just meandering from day to day with little ambition or excitement, you might want to consider whether the objectives and goals you’ve set for yourself are sufficient to move you in the direction you desire.

So if you’re feeling stressed, don’t worry. There’s a good chance that you’re stress is simply a sign that what you are doing is sufficient enough to take you to where you want to be in life.

I’m curious, what examples or stories do you have of how stress has helped you to achieve your goals?

© Shawn Casemore 2015. All rights reserved.