We live in a high energy world, filled with deadlines and expectations…. so its ok if you have ever felt like being calm under stress is mission impossible! From deadlines to personal problems and even unexpected crises, the need for composure is essential in order to make well thought out decisions that will safeguard both your mental state. Thankfully, the ancient philosophy of Stoicism provides real strategies you can use to cultivate this skill so that no matter what comes your way, you face it — strong and steady.
Pressure — What it is, How to handle it
Our experience of pressure is frequently fuelled by our view of life as intrusive or hostile. Stress is not just the external events but our response. The Stoics understood that we cannot control the circumstances, but they left it to us how we respond. This principle of Stoicism has been long regarded as a foundational key for in order to foster an unflappable Mary Poppins mindset even amid the worst experiences ever.
Change your Perspective and Change Your Mind
One of the central tenets to Stoic philosophy is that events in and of themselves are not good or bad; rather, it is our perception of these very same things which make them sadness-provoking as opposed to happiness inducing. If you feel that pressure answering the question whether a situation is really so critical as it seems to be then ask yourself, underground. Diffusing out emotions is often as easy (or difficult) as reframing, or adjusting our thoughts. For example, instead of looking at a difficult task as something that will derail your potential — look at it with a lens for opportunity. Such a change in perspective reduces the level of stress you are experiencing, thus providing an opportunity to deal with things from point zero.
Focus on What You Can Control
Nothing under the sun is as liberating a concept in Stoicism than that of controlling what you can and accepting all others. However when the pressure is on, common distractions are what others think and do (or will happen), circumstances. Stoics tell us to only focus our energy on what we can control — our thoughts, actions and attitudes. That is how we can keep from losing ourselves and instead, regain some sort of control — which in turn allows us to cultivate calm. Reminding us to get back in our bodies and out of fear also helps more sane approaches to stressful situations.
Learning Emotional Detachment
Another important Stoic technique of being able to keep calm in trying times is emotional detachment. These does not mean being apathetic or cold, but simply monitoring your emotions without letting them over take you. You will be able to notice the pressure rising, so just take a step back and observe how you are feeling. Take the time to think about why you are experiencing that emotion and whether or not it is supporting, or getting in your way of being able to respond adequately. If you can put some distance between the way that you feel and your emotions, then this will ensure that rather than a spur of the moment reaction (where impulsiveness is likely), instead your reactions are pre-meditated. It helps you stay detached, be in your center and take decisions that are knitting well with the person to become.
The Practice of Premeditation
Pre-meditation, alias 'premeditatio malorum', is a stoic practice where you rehearse pitfalls or disasters you may encountered on the way. Visualizing these scenarios allows you to be ready when they inevitably happen. This leads to reduced surprise of whats happening and a sort-of sense that you were prepping for it, which in turn should help cut the degree of drama associated with its occurrences. The more you expect obstacles, the better prepared to face difficulties with a calm mind and help from above.
Reflect and Journal Daily
Another thing to manage reset pressure is get into daily reflection and journaling. Stoics believed that self-examination is high importance, and for this purpose they used to write what happened at the end of each day. After any sort of situation arises, assessing your reactions to pressure will reveal a pattern where you react most frequently and show the areas in which they are acceptable or not. In the case of journaling, it gives you a safe space to reflect on your thoughts and feelings so that when an eerily similar scenario pops up again in life, you are able see things clearly and handle them better. With time, the practice builds your resilience and expands your capacity to stay calm when life gets tough.
Conclusion
It is a state of mind that can be worked on like any other and applied with the aid of Stoic philosophy. If you change your mindset, focus on the things that are in our control, practice emotional detachment and anticipate problems beforehand — even if it is no longer possible not to be caught up by stress itself. And always remember, pressure being mastered by your mind. It starts in the head &___ Through incorporating these Stoic tactics, you can cultivate a better standard or structure of thought that helps one to face adversity with grace and poise.