A Prescription for Stress
Loving Leaders: We can't offer others compassion, kindness, patience, attention, challenge, courage, and other forms of love if our nervous systems are spun up, if we are stressed out, at our wits end, frayed, cranky, and exhausted.
To be the leaders we want to be for colleagues and families too, we need to actively take steps to calm our stress and fear response and activate our love, peace, and safety response. Here's a link to a list of ten well-being practices. Which are you drawn to? https://lnkd.in/gzDaxyb
Last week I took this advice myself! My prescription? Learn to cross country ski! Happily, this involved many well-being strategies: Nature. Awe. Movement. Laughter. Breathing...Lots of breathing! ;)
My RX for Stress:
Go find snow.
Listen to the silence.
Learn cross country skills.
Unlearn downhill habits.
Fall and learn to get up.
Laugh and sweat a lot.
Focus, glide, and feel joy!
Return home renewed.
It was such A RELIEF TO FOCUS ON THE PRESENT MOMENT so that I didn't careen into the woods or end up on my backside! A few years ago in a drawing class, I experienced something similar: The mental relief of focusing on the object I was drawing, totally absorbed and present.
Whatever practices appeal to you, take time for yourself this week. Focus on the present moment, releasing anxiety, and rediscovering your heart to be the leader you want to be for those who are counting on you.
That's #LovingLeadership.
