Stress Levers

Stanford Professor Robert Sapolsky offers four key elements creating chronic psychological stress. He says that lack of one of these four is nearly always a key factor in stress.

I see these patterns in coaching sessions. Unpredictability in increasingly complex systems, a sense of lack of agency, lack of social support, and a lack of outlets, or a combination. There are of course many more factors (e.g. biology, nutrition, brain architecture, trauma, sleep, early childhood experiences, socioeconomic resources, etc) but today I'm focusing on the four offered by Sapolsky. Interestingly, in general, says Sapolsky, often men refer more to a lack of agency (control) and women to a lack of social support.

Each of these four areas (which are interconnected) could also be viewed as resources or levers to address to help alleviate stress.

In complex systems, instead of focusing on solutions directly, we have an opportunity to create conditions in which success can emerge (like the garden metaphor if you're familiar with that one?).

▶️ Predictabilty: What structures, systems, routines, could offer some predictability and stability? Possibly could relate to other areas too. For example, what can I trust or rely on you for? And vice versa.

▶️ Agency: So many of my clients, under stress, feel better when they start taking action. Including, for example, when the action is an inquiry too, like observations or reflections or a literal movement, or conversation or research or decisions about anything, including wellbeing and health.

▶️ Outlets: anything that offers release and expression e.g. following passions, engaging creativity, travel, philanthropic pursuits, idea sharing, participation in events, etc.

▶️ Social Support: this is a big one. Colleagues, friends, partners, family. Coaches fit here too. Interestingly, increasingly people simply don't have someone to talk openly and safely with. Someone with whom to bounce around ideas and explore challenges. To grow, it is essential to have quality support that's at least equal to the level of challenge.

Could you influence your environment in any of these areas?

Side note💡: I may offer more from Robert Sapolsky in the future as I've just bought his latest book about determinism in which he asserts that there really is no such thing as free will. This is fascinating work. Very apt for those of you/us who like thinking bigger.

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Thinking Bigger Today.

#stress #stressrelief #verticaldevelopment #coach #personaldevelopment