In the relentless pursuit of personal and professional growth, understanding How to Deal with Stress & Anxiety becomes crucial. Through the lens of a compelling personal story, I’ve come to recognize the profound impact of preparedness and perspective on our ability to handle life’s challenges.
Story Time: How to Deal with Stress & Anxiety
Flashback to my freshman year in college, my aspirations were clear: I was destined for the military. This wasn’t just a casual decision; it was embedded in my identity. My brother and I, having grown up in what I’d call a “military family,” were no strangers to discipline and dedication. This background laid the groundwork for a pivotal experience during my time in ROTC—a test of calm under pressure that would shape my approach to future challenges.
During a gathering that took an unexpected turn, I found myself facing a potentially dangerous situation. Tasked with disassembling and reassembling a 9mm pistol under the watchful eye of two inebriated special operators, one of whom pointed a Desert Eagle at my head, the stakes were unimaginably high. Yet, the pressure I felt was not from the looming threat but from the task at hand—a task I was unexpectedly prepared for. My countless hours of practice had equipped me with the confidence to perform under pressure, turning a high-stress situation into a manageable challenge.
This incident contrasts sharply with my early days as an entrepreneur, where the pressure of generating sufficient income for my family without a clear action plan led to overwhelming stress and anxiety. The difference? Preparation and perspective. Knowing exactly what to do in one situation and groping in the dark in another taught me a valuable lesson: the significance of understanding our challenges and having a clear plan of action.
How to Deal with Stress & Anxiety
To navigate the pressures of life and business, we must first recognize the nature of our stress. Is it born from a lack of knowledge or a lack of preparation? Identifying this gap is the first step toward overcoming it. Whether it’s seeking mentorship, reflecting on past challenges to gain perspective, or simply taking one step at a time, the key lies in our ability to prepare and adapt.
As we face the pressures of building a better business and becoming better humans, let’s remind ourselves: it’s not about eliminating stress but learning to manage it through preparation, perspective, and perseverance. Let’s commit to trying harder, not just in anticipation of the challenges ahead but in our continuous journey of growth and improvement.
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TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:
- [00:00:00] Introduction to the concept of better human business and the importance of continual self-improvement in business scaling and personal growth.
- [00:00:21] Encouragement to subscribe and share if enjoying the content; introduction to the episode’s focus on handling stress, pressure, and anxiety.
- [00:01:00] Jerred shares a personal story from his freshman year of college related to his military aspirations and an intense experience during ROTC.
- [00:02:21] Explanation of military fraternities within ROTC and Jerred’s experience pledging, leading to a high-pressure situation involving firearms.
- [00:03:18] Details of a potentially dangerous situation involving alcohol, firearms, and the pressure to disassemble and reassemble a 9mm pistol under duress.
- [00:05:00] Reflection on the lack of stress felt during the situation due to preparedness and practice.
- [00:07:00] Contrast with the stress of early entrepreneurship and the realization of financial pressures, highlighting the difference between knowing what to do and feeling lost.
- [00:08:21] Discussion on the importance of perspective in handling stress and the role of experience in managing challenges.
- [00:10:00] Three strategies for dealing with pressure and stress: seeking help through coaching or mentorship, gaining perspective through reflection, and recognizing the nature of stress to identify missing knowledge or actions.
- [00:13:15] Encouragement to actively address stress and pressure by identifying and filling knowledge gaps, taking one step at a time, and the importance of trying harder to overcome challenges.
- [00:14:00] Closing thoughts on acknowledging and addressing stress and anxiety through action and effort.