PERFORM UNDER PRESSURE
How do you perform under pressure? What happens when you are confronted at work by a jealous coworker? What do you do when you are standing over an eight-foot putt on the golf course? How do you handle your spouse challenging your spending? These are all pressurized situations and how you handle them reveals a lot about your mental state, and your quality of life. Let’s examine how to perform with grace and ease when the pressure is on you.
At the core of excelling in challenging circumstances lies the practice of being fully present amid adversity. Through mindfulness, you cultivate an awareness of your thoughts and emotions. This illuminates the patterns of thought and emotion that influence your reactions. This awareness grants you the power to choose your responses consciously and to channel your energy into constructive actions.
What you are doing is using emotional intelligence. If you give yourself a moment before you act you are guided by intuition and experience, not anger and fear. This emotional mastery empowers you to respond to challenges with resilience, adaptability, and a clear sense of direction.
One technique to excel in challenging circumstances is the five-step resilience practice. With this approach – you guessed it – you go through five steps: Awareness, Acceptance, Adaptation, Action, and Appreciation. (Why didn’t they call it the 5-A’s?)
Here are the steps: First, become aware of your thoughts and emotions in response to the challenge. Then, accept them without judgment, acknowledging their presence. Next, adapt your mindset and perspective, viewing the challenge as an opportunity for growth. Take purposeful action based on this new perspective, and finally, appreciate the lessons and insights gained from overcoming the challenge. That’s a lot, so give yourself time to master this one, but it is worth it. This practice will guide you through challenging circumstances with mindfulness and resilience.