In this third installment of the Secrets of Mental Well-Being series, we are exploring the inner sources of stress using four simple insights based on neuroscience and cognitive psychology. Based on these insights, we will introduce the “trigger log” to take a closer look into your deep-rooted beliefs and begin to understand how this affects getting your needs met on a daily basis.
In this second installment of the Secrets of Mental Health series, we are introducing the “stress-meter” which is a tool you can use to measure how effective or ineffective your inner state-of-being is over time.
Our unique model helps identify how frequently and with what strength your stress, anxiety and other factors affect your overall inner state-of-being on a day-to-day and long-term basis. It also provides a barometer by which to identify improvement and change as a result of your self-discovery efforts.
When we think about our next level of performance or improvement, sometimes we focus too much on what we want to change on the outside, while forgetting to notice what inner states drive those outcomes. For example, how much does your inner sense of confidence affect your performance in a job interview? If you spend all your interview prep time thinking about questions and answers, but fail to pay attention to what you can do to build your confidence, how much potential have you wasted?
Times of uncertainty and stress weigh on our relationships, just when we need them the most. From the growing frustration and arguments popping up with those we’re cooped up with, to weird team dynamics on zoom meetings that are difficult to understand and resolve, to feeling horribly incompetent as parents when the kids are NOT adjusting well to home school, this is a tough and unprecedented time for everyone.Fortunately, it’s normal for stressful times to strain our relationships, and it is possible to turn those dynamics around with just a few shifts. Here are 10 of my top tips for handling common situations you may be experiencing in the current COVID-19 crisis: