The past few days I have been absolutely buried at work. As I like to say, “Being busy is better than being bored,†so I won’t complain (too much). However, it has become startling clear how debilitating it can be to worry and stress about looming deadlines and projects. It’s a never-ending sense of dread.
Projects and deadlines become stressful for only one reason: fear that you will not live up to your own expectations.
Who creates these expectations? Like I said….You Do.
They could be expectations about what someone else will think of you. Of what you will look like in front of your peers. Of what you will think of yourself later on.
All of these expectations are based on a set of rules and laws that you alone create. Therefore, why not create a set of rules and laws that are motivating and not debilitating?
For example: if you are putting together a presentation for executive management in a few days (which I am doing right now in fact); which of the following inner-dialogs would you rather have running through your mind and body?
1. I need to have the presentation perfect. It needs to have all the right data. It needs to look perfect. I need to be prepared for each and every possible question they could have coming at me!
2. I will have an insightful and well-researched presentation. I will be prepared to discuss the issues with conviction and courage. I will educate others, and also be open to educating myself on other people’s points of view.
If you don’t train your mind to have a positive inner-dialog, chances are it will just run amok. Some people call this “motivation,†when all it really does is wear you down on many levels. Train you mind to have a more constructive and positive outlook. It will free up a lot more energy better tasks….like finishing your presentation!
Now…back I go to work 
Related posts:
{ 1 trackback }
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Unrelated, but I like the Duke Lacrosse ad on the front page.