“The most stressful thing we do every morning is think I don’t have enough time to get it all done.”
Heidi Hanna, PhD is the Executive Director of the American Institute of Stress, and provides many articles, videos and programs on mastering stress.
She is host for the free Global Stress Summit 2020.
From the registration page :
This year we’re using a live, in-person and live, online hybrid model to expand the positive impact of your summit experience.
Based on Connected Learning Theory, we believe this unique opportunity will offer human connection, discussions, and networking for those who are able to join one of our Global HUBs, while also providing the highest quality content for participants who may be limited from traveling to see us.
You will have three ways to connect with us for this free, LIVE summit, April 18th.
Get an exclusive invite to our Global Connection HUBs: currently confirmed for San Diego, Boston, Sarasota, and Detroit in the United States, plus Sydney, Johannesburg, and London.
Stream in to view all LIVE sessions on April 18th from the comfort of your home or office. Or host your own connection HUB with friends and family to stream in together, and receive a special HUB Host Playbook to help facilitate discussions.
Register free:
Global Stress Summit 2020
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In this video, she addresses a previous conference audience:
Dr. Hanna comments:
“You’ve probably seen a lot of the studies that say finances are one of the biggest stressors, and that is true – but in my research looking at 8,000 people, the number one most stressful thing we do every morning is think ‘I don’t have enough time to get it all done.’
“And as soon as that hijack happens, our brain is not our own; we are now totally stress sensitive, we’re being pulled off into survival mode and putting out fires instead of being intentional about being in the moment – when the moments matter most.”
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Dr. Hanna also says “The majority of the time the way that we react to stress is primal, being fueled by the lower level functions of our highly developed brain.”
See article about her online course:
The Stress Mastery Program for Emotional Health by Heidi Hanna
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Creativity coach, author and psychologist Eric Maisel, PhD, notes about the stress challenges of artists:
“Some people become doctors, lawyers, accountants, or marketing executives. Some people stay at home and raise a family.
“But millions of people make another sort of choice, maybe only as part-time employment if you count the money they earn but as their full-time identity: they become artists.”
And, he adds, “they struggle.”
Photo: ‘Tea worry’ – used in several of my articles including Dealing With Worry and Anxiety To Be More Creative.
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In one of the chapters (“The Stress Key”) of his book “Making Your Creative Mark,” he writes about how the creative life can be an ongoing source of stress – if we interpret or frame it as such.
He explains, “A stressor is anything, positive or negative, that makes a demand on us.
“Stress is our body’s physical and psychological reaction to those demands — on the physical level, it is a buildup of chemicals that keeps increasing as the stress persists.
“The stress buildup is the reaction, and the demand (or stressor) is the cause.”
But, he continues,
“The demand can actually be positive. Imagine your editor calling you up and telling you that she wants a new book from you.
“That’s lovely — unless you can’t see how on earth you can fit writing it into your schedule. It is lovely to be wanted, but her call still creates a demand — and stress.”
Shifting how we respond can lead to experiencing stressors in another way.
“We can normalize or even reframe many demands as opportunities, and when we do, the associated stress vanishes.
“If you are holding it as lovely to make three calls today to gallery owners instead of as something dreadful that you wish you could avoid at all costs, you have changed the demand characteristic of the situation to one of opportunity.”
Continued in a much longer chapter excerpt: The Stress Key, by Eric Maisel – from his book Making Your Creative Mark: Nine Keys to Achieving Your Artistic Goals.
Also see his book Mastering Creative Anxiety.
*Note – The above is an affiliate link (and perhaps others on this page) to a product or program you might find helpful as a creative person. The company pays me a commission, if you choose to make a purchase. There is no extra cost to you. See details in note below the end of this article.
Dr. Maisel has addressed creative anxiety and fear in a number of his writings.
See articles:
Eric Maisel on Creating Fearlessly
Eric Maisel on overcoming creative anxiety
How to have a more successful creative life – Eric Maisel programs.
Eric Maisel, PhD is author of more than 50 books, and his interests include creativity, the creative life, and the profession of creativity coaching, which he founded.
He leads creativity workshops in places including Paris, London, Rome, Dublin, Prague, San Francisco, and New York.
About his online teaching classes and programs (the image shows some of them), he notes:
“I want to share with you the ideas, lessons, tactics, and strategies that I’ve learned over the years that I know work.”
See much more in the article.
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Some related articles and resources:
How To Reduce Anxiety Using Behavioral Science – The Linden Method
Gifted and Stressed – For many gifted and talented people, their sensitivity and “blessed unrest” may increase chronic arousal that leads to stress.
Multiple Passions and Talents But Potential Burnout – Many multitalented people feel inspired and energized to pursue multiple creative projects, often at the same time. One potential downside is physical and emotional burnout.
site Anxiety and Stress Relief Resources.
Emotional Health Resources page
Mental Health – Emotional Health videos
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Douglas Eby (M.A./Psychology) is author of the The Creative Mind series of sites which provide “Information and inspiration to help creative people thrive.”
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