STRESS TO IMPRESS
‘Mindfulness’ may be having its moment, but could inner peace be holding you back from higher performance? THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE
Ignore the zen zealots: applying a little pressure can forge a higher performance
Stress wasn’t always such a loaded word – just as the avoidance of it hasn’t always been a billiondollar industry. But for every wellness guru espousing the benefits of daily meditation and the whimsical modern philosophy of ‘mindfulness’, there’s an overstretched office worker whose desperate efforts to calm his pounding heart are flatlining 1 .
Let’s start by examining what happens when you get anxious. The autonomic nervous system puts your body in ‘fight or flight’ mode, which causes your heart rate to rise. But here’s the kicker: this is not a bad thing. In fact, your body reacts in the exact same way when you’re excited. It’s only context that causes us to name the response as fear rather than exhilaration. Don’t run from it – chase it. That’s not something you’re used to hearing from Instagram spiritualists, we’re sure, but stay with us.
A study was conducted in which participants were asked to complete maths problems. Those who reported feeling anxious about their abilities performed worse as their levels of the stress hormone cortisol increased. So far so obvious, right? However, those who didn’t interpret their jitters as anxiety – despite being no more adept at number crunching – actually performed better as their bodies released more cortisol. Stress sharpened their minds 2 . This ‘arousal energy’ has a sweet spot, you see. Yes, too much of it will fry your brain, but a deficiency can also cause you to underachieve. It’s something everyone from stage performers to pro athletes intrinsically understands. Tiger Woods once said, “The day I don’t feel nervous before I go out on the green is the day I give up.” He needed that buzz to perform at his best.
If you convince yourself that stress should be avoided at all costs in order to maintain a Buddhist-like calm, then you’re cheating yourself out of the brain-boosting effects a little pressure can deliver. What’s more, if you’re unable to achieve your desired state of serenity, you’ll interpret this as a personal failure, which only serves to create an additional stressor. In fact, according to research from the American Psychological Association, consciously trying to calm down ahead of a stressful event is less effective for reducing anxiety than firing yourself up. Still not convinced that stress is a blessing? The arousal state also releases noradrenaline – a neuromodulator that effectively grows new brain connections. In older people, those who undergo moderately stressful events see less cognitive decline. The noradrenaline makes their brains more adaptive, which in turn protects them against degenerative illness. And it can do the same for you, at any stage in life.
Of course, there’s no reason to retrain as an SAS operative, or start actually reading Trump’s tweets. Just don’t believe everything the zen zealots preach. Anxiety is merely a fear of the symptoms of fear. Learn to interpret your arousal response as a sign that your body is readying itself for action. This automatically puts you in a ‘challenge’ mindset, where you’re anticipating reward rather than a ‘threat’ – where you’re expecting a form of punishment 3 . The next time public speaking or encroaching deadlines leave your stomach in knots, tell yourself that this is an opportunity to perform at your best under pressure. Now turn off the panpipes and go get ’em, Tiger.
“Those who embrace the jitters perform better as their bodies release more cortisol”