Pressure has a way of getting our attention. I don’t always love how it feels in the moment, but I can’t deny that it often brings me into sharper focus. When there’s a deadline or a real sense of urgency, I start to see what matters most and what I can let go of. The extra noise gets quieter, the mission-critical pieces become clearer, and somehow that pressure can turn into momentum.
Lately, I’ve been noticing this in my own life as I prepare for friends and family to visit and as I work toward a hiking goal that’s coming up in mid-July. Both situations are stretching me, but they’re also helping me make decisions, take action, and remember that not all stress is bad when we use it well. On our Wise Walk, we’ll look at where pressure may be helping us grow, what nonessentials we can release, and how to build in recovery after an intense season of effort.
- Are you someone who performs better under pressure, and do you know what motivates you or gives you clarity and focus?
- What becomes possible when you lean into the pressure you’re feeling, and what kind of beauty surfaces when you accept the situation you’re in?
- Where in your life are you feeling pressure right now, whether it’s from guests arriving, a fitness goal, a deadline, career projects, or something else on your calendar?
- Are those deadlines helping you perform under pressure and channel your stress into productive energy?
- Are you able to focus on what is mission critical, eliminate the nonessentials, and hit your stride?
- Where in your life are you building in recovery time after periods of pressure or intensity?
- Can you acknowledge when a pressure-filled season is helping you grow, while also recognizing that the intensity may not be sustainable?
- How can you eliminate the nonessentials and build in a recovery period after creating beauty under pressure?
- What tips, techniques, or tricks help you hyper-focus during an intense period while still giving yourself an off switch?
- How do you help yourself feel pride and satisfaction when you cross the finish line or accomplish what you set out to do?
- How do you build in mini wins along the way so you can recognize your progress and give yourself credit?
- When you are finished, do you take time to accept, acknowledge, and appreciate the beauty you created through your pressure strategies?
Thank you for being part of this community and for helping me keep looking at life through a lens of possibility. I’d love to hear what you took away from this episode and what beauty you’re creating under pressure.
Whether you’re working toward a goal, growing through a challenge, or learning to build in recovery, please reach out and share. I’m grateful for you and this community, and I hope you’ll tune in next Thursday.
In this episode:
- [02:28] Diamonds, pearls, and fossils are all beautiful and formed under pressure over time. As well as, espresso and crystals. There are so many examples in nature.
- [03:03] I don’t like being under pressure, but I’m mindful about how it can improve my performance.
- [04:11] I have friends and family coming, and it’s a motivating deadline. I have a heightened awareness of what I can get done in time.
- [05:18] My deadline for my hiking goal is giving me focus and clarity on my training plan. I enjoy pressure when it comes to the sense of reward, and the sense of relief.
- [06:11] My goal is also forcing me to get out there and join hiking groups and engage with others.
- [07:09] These goals are motivating me and helping me improve my performance and to grow. We have to put the time in now to get the payout.
- [08:34] As I reflected on beauty under pressure, I realized that stress is also involved.
- [09:29] Not all stress is bad. Even though we’re not meant to maintain high adrenaline constantly, having deadlines and channeling our productivity isn’t bad.
- [10:32] We have to make sure that we decompress after these stressful periods.
- [12:02] One of the strategies I use when I have super intense goals is setting a timer. I can be in high intensity go mode when I have an off switch.
- [13:37] When I was writing my book, I would use the Pomodoro Technique and set mini deadlines as writing sprints.
Memorable Quotes:
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- “Stress can have negative effects on us and can be used for good. We need to manage the pressure in our lives and let it help us achieve our goals.” – Mary Tess
- “Recovery time is essential because we can’t sustain a high level of intensity for too long.” – Mary Tess
- “Pressure can be uncomfortable, but it can also reveal what we’re capable of when we stay focused on the essentials.” – Mary Tess
Links and Resources: