Pressure, Anxiety — Greatness
A few weeks back I had a conversation with a friend of mine who was going through a particular challenge in a new position at work. The friend said they were under pressure to adapt to the new demands and it was spilling over into anxiety.
It was a deep conversation and the person was in a situation in which they hadn’t experienced of having learn, acclimate and produce all at the same time.
For my part, I told them their situation was exciting because it is exciting to be challenged. Being challenged can only bring growth.
I tried to explain that when you are being stretched it is exciting because you are learning and, by extension, you are becoming a better version of yourself.
Obviously, these moments and times are uncomfortable, but at the end of the day, pressure is a furnace that makes you better for going through it.
It is also normal to feel anxious while you are going through. We don’t have to fight against being scared. We are humans and we get afraid, that is OK. At the same time, however, we must also remember how great we are, what we have overcome to get here and the strength that over have over the situation.
“Pressure, challenges — is all an opportunity for me to rise.” — Kobe Bryant
In addition, pressure, ultimately, is something that never goes away, be it at work, in business or in your career. It will be at the core and it will always underpin what you are doing if you are trying to achieve. So don’t look at pressure and being anxious as a bad thing.
Embrace it and grow from it.
