Stress, the Turgor of Life
Incredible insight on Stress from Breakfast with Fred. The article is called Holding a Taut Line and can be found below.
A few highlights that I found particularly powerful:
“Botanists teach us about the importance of turgor – that normal fullness that comes from the tension produced by fluid flowing through veins of plants. Lack of proper tension makes plants droop. We are no different. Without a healthy degree of stress and tension, we wilt.
Certainly we must control stress, but we must not eliminate it. One of the finest ways to control it is by learning to appreciate it, rather than fearing it. If you didn’t have tension, you wouldn’t have enough ambition to become successful.”
“The same thing is true in life. We either face problems as challenges or withdraw into the shell of inertia. We can choose to see obstacles or opportunities.
This week think carefully about: 1) How am I using stress to my advantage? 2) Where am I causing stress for others? 3) What is my biggest current challenge and am I running forward or backward?
Words of Wisdom: “We either face problems as challenges or withdraw into the shell of inertia.”
I love the analogy of plants and turgor. The necessity to have a healthy tension that perpetually propels us to succeed is essential to personal sustainability. Often I, as well as loved ones around me, continually gripe of the tumultuous battles with stress. I find enlightenment in the fact that stress has a healthy, pull you forward degree as well. As an opportunist, I’ve always imagined problems as challenges with an opportunity lying on the other side. However, tying such opportunism to the inherent nature of stress is, well, stress relieving. I will reflect on the “this week think carefully” points and urge you to do the same. Our greatest successes often emerge from victory over such challenges.
-E
Below is the article in it’s entirety as it has yet to be posted on the Breakfast with Fred Website:
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Successful leaders have learned to appreciate tension. I am convinced that positive stress is a wonderful thing. Where else would we get the energy to carry out our responsibilities?
Botanists teach us about the importance of turgor – that normal fullness that comes from the tension produced by fluid flowing through veins of plants. Lack of proper tension makes plants droop. We are no different. Without a healthy degree of stress and tension, we wilt.
Certainly we must control stress, but we must not eliminate it. One of the finest ways to control it is by learning to appreciate it, rather than fearing it. If you didn’t have tension, you wouldn’t have enough ambition to become successful.
We had a young man who, when asked the question, “How long have you been working for the company?” responded, “Ever since the boss threatened to fire me!” This young man didn’t have the eye of the tiger, nor the fire in the belly that true leaders need. Successful men and women have an intense rhythm and energetic pace.
I sometimes hear wives complain about how tired their husbands are at night. I think this is part of the price of being a leader. You can’t have the placidity of a mule and the winnings of a racehorse!
A psychiatrist friend of mine was sent to Guadalcanal following the bloody battles with the Japanese in 1942 to talk with both the cowards and the heroes to see why each reacted as he did. My friend told me that both were motivated by the same great fear, but the heroes ran forward and the cowards ran backward.
The same thing is true in life. We either face problems as challenges or withdraw into the shell of inertia. We can choose to see obstacles or opportunities.
This week think carefully about: 1) How am I using stress to my advantage? 2) Where am I causing stress for others? 3) What is my biggest current challenge and am I running forward or backward?
Words of Wisdom: “We either face problems as challenges or withdraw into the shell of inertia.”
Wisdom from the Word: “Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, show courage, be strong.” (I Corinthians 16:13 NET Bible)
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To read more writings of Fred Smith go to www.breakfastwithfred.com”
