Why are my spouse and I constantly arguing about the same issues? How can I lead my team and organization successfully out of this global pandemic? How do we support our child who is experiencing so much change?
Do you ask yourself these questions? We can see that stress is derived from our professional and personal lives, as well as our relationships; each impacting our mental health. Our state of mind impacts our physical, emotional, and psychological well being. However, it is often the least prioritized area of our health.
Yet, in times of change such as these, bad behaviors often arise to the surface of our thoughts and actions. When we are experiencing times of stress and change, the types of choices we make, and the way in which we make choices, also change.
In an environment of stress and change, our frontal lobe becomes susceptible to damage. According to Cibrian-Llanderal et al. (2017) the inability to manage stress can produce addictive behaviors and can impede cognitive function. This is particularly serious, as our frontal lobes manage behavior, specifically shaping our problem solving, judgement, and impulse control.
Whether dealing with daily stress, coming to terms with traumatic experiences from our childhood, or managing our worries about the future, mental health challenges are commonplace for us all. Mental health impacts the CEO, the housewife, and the adolescent, very similarly. Yet how we respond to the stressors in our lives that impact our mental health, will distinguish who succumbs to their trials, and who remains resilient. It is important to note that during the different phases and cycles throughout our lives, we will feel stronger to handle challenges, and at times, feel weaker. This is both acceptable and normal.
Recognizing moments of weakness can accelerate improvements in mental health as we allow ourselves to be honest and accepting of our mental and physical state. To bridge a state of weakness to a state of strength, we must access our vulnerability, to find help and move beyond the stress we are enduring. Using tools such as alignment, connection, and even meditation, can foster this success. Note, that your stressors may require the intervention of a counsellor or doctor and may go beyond these above suggestions.
We can see that change, challenge, and choice, are interrelated factors. When working in tandem, they can simultaneously uplift us, or direct us into a downward spiral. As we become increasingly conscientious of how our choices are impacted by change, and prioritize our mental wellbeing to protect our executive functions, we will inherently select responses that move us out of challenging spaces, and allow us to resolve problems more swiftly. Finding ways to remain centered and grounded, is a critical first step to maintain the health of our frontal lobes. According to Kase (2010), excellent decision makers lean on their emotional intelligence, intuition, and ability to manage uncertainty, in times of stress. How have you prioritized these skills in your personal and professional lives? Observe that each of these factors demands a high level of self-awareness. Take time to unpack how you respond to stress, and the motivations behind your responses. Getting to the root of how you have been shaped in times of stress, offers the very key you need, to overcome it.
About Nadiya Manji
Nadiya Manji is a sought after business leadership and emotional intelligence expert who helps clients breakthrough their personal, professional and social vulnerabilities. She works to improve self-awareness and create balanced, empowered and resilient leaders in all divisions of life and business. Nadiya has lived and practiced in three continents, where she developed a love for helping people identify and overcome their inner blocks and barriers that prevent them from reaching their human potential. Nadiya is a Transformational Master Coach, International TEDx Speaker, and Author of the self- help book titled, “Searching for Balance”. She has spent over 20 years honing her skills in science, spirituality and intuition. Now, Nadiya offers a wide range of coaching programs and services including in person coaching, corporate workshops, training sessions and on-board consultations.
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