Transforming Stress into a Motivation

Our recent collaborative efforts with new prospect have garnered so
much hatred that we decided to transform these negative vibes into
something more satisfying and relieving. Although the by-product of
this transformed hatred is yet to be seen, we are already feeling good
through the process of achieving it and we wish to share this feeling
with readers out there.
Under normal circumstances workers should be able, by activating
their reaction mechanisms, to find new balances and responses to
new situations. Stress is therefore, not necessarily a negative
phenomenon. It would be a mistake to concentrate only on the
pathological aspect of stress without emphasizing its importance in
the search for dynamic adaptation to a given situation. If health is
considered as a dynamic equilibrium, stress is part of it for there is no
health without interaction with other people and with the environment.
Only excesses are pathological.
If stress is intense, continuous or repeated, if the person is unable to
cope or if support is lacking, then stress becomes a negative
phenomenon leading to physical illness and psychological disorders.
From early disorders to real illness, the harmful consequences of
stress cover a broad range from chronic fatigue to depression, by
way of insomnia, anxiety, migrain, emotional upsets, stomach
ulcers, allergies, skin disorders, lumbago and rheumatic attacks and
can culminate in the most serious consequences of all: heart attacks,
accidents and even suicides.

“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as
they exist or accept the responsibility for changing them.” –
Denis Waitley (American motivational speaker and author of
self-help books, 1993).

1) Get time away. If you feel stress building, take a break. Walk
away from the situation. Take a stroll around the block, sit on a
park bench, or spend a few minutes meditating. Exercise does
wonders for the psyche. But even just finding a quiet place and
listening to your iPod can reduce stress.

2) Talk it out. Sometimes the best stress-reducer is simply sharing
your stress with someone close to you. The act of talking it out –
and getting support and empathy from someone else – is often
an excellent way of blowing off steam and reducing stress.

3) Cultivate allies at work. Just knowing you have one or more
co-workers who are willing to assist you in times of stress will
reduce your stress level. Just remember to reciprocate and help
them when they are in need.

4) Find humor in the situation. When you – or the people around you – start taking things too seriously, find a way to break through with laughter. Share a joke or funny story.

Sumber: NIOSH