Pressure comes from a lack of preparation – Colin Kaepernick.

We often find people in a rush, sweat dripping off their forehead and stress written on their faces. Upon asking, the most common answer we get is: “I am under a lot of pressure.” No matter if it is from work or from meeting a deadline, but it is there. Yet, we have never tried to dig into what this pressure is and why we never take responsibility for it, or in other words: take action.

What is pressure?

Stress/pressure is a normal psychological and physical response to the day-to-day demands of life. The feeling of being overloaded with mental or emotional pressure can turn into stress when you feel unable to cope. While a certain level of stress can be motivational for one person, the same level may overwhelm someone else.

Everyone seems to lead very complicated and fast-paced lives filled with what seems like unending tasks and commitments in this day and age. Often, it can be hard to see through all the fog and understand what is and is not important. Learning how to manage stress effectively can help you be happier, healthier, and even more productive.

Why do people get pressured?

Let’s try and find the reason together. We can take sports as an example since it is the only thing in this world with the most pressure. We will also talk about why these two people or the way the world calls them lucky.

In his biography, Ricky Ponting, the three-time world cup winner, says it time and time again before a world cup or an ashes series (played against England.) He always visualizes and prepares for key moments through visualization and note taking his routine before the night of the game. He prepares how he would deal with certain situations like if the bowler is bowling well, what actions he can take to keep himself on the pitch for longer, and he never uses the word pressure.

Instead, he changes it to be proactive or being prepared. After his performance, the world always says that he handles pressure well or was just lucky, which isn’t true. Instead, he trains well through deep practice and how it is that some people are just better at dealing with pressure altogether.

In his book ”Outliers,” Malcolm Gladwell says that 10,000 hours are required a minimum to excel or master a skill to some extent, and these people don’t use the word pressure. Why? Because they prepare, and they practice it so many times that it becomes easy for them.

Another Australian bowler, Glenn McGrath, uses the same approach. He does such an extensive workout that when the so-called pressure occurs in any situation, it’s a piece of cake for him. He mentioned that he hired a coach that gives him such an extensive workout before a big event that when the moment of pressure finally arrives, he enjoys it.

How to deal with pressure?

We don’t realize that our subconscious mind is so powerful, and it can master anything once we prepare the way the best in the world does, and through deep practice, any skill or any game becomes as if it comes naturally to them.

Now let’s look at the other side of the coin. I have seen people call the ones who perform time and time again in a pressured situation as lucky. Let’sLet’s see what that truly means. I can recall hearing this “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” This quote, attributed to Roman philosopher Seneca, reminds us that we create our luck.

As we have seen before, the difference between lucky and unlucky people is all in our perspective. Lucky people generate their good fortune via basic principles.

1. Creating opportunities: 

They are skilled at creating and noticing opportunities, keeping them improving, and just recalling the learning from it. We all know that one day all that hard work will come in handy when the time requires.

2. Listening to the intuition:

They make lucky decisions by listening to their intuition – If it seems too good to be true, it usually is. Most “get rich quick” schemes are just that…schemes. With the great reward comes great effort and years of hard work, so when you see someone performing or even being good at what they do, it’s because they are being rewarded in public for what they have practised a thousand times in private.

3. Be realistic about opportunities: 

Don’tDon’t expect one opportunity to change your life. I don’t remember who said that if you enjoy the process, the results don’t matter. We all know so many people that thrive on the pressure; in fact, they enjoy it.

4. Adopt a resilient attitude:

Adopt an attitude that transforms “bad” luck into good – Having a positive outlook and perspective can be the one thing that changes your life the most! Try to find the silver lining in all situations, even when they don’t go your way. Always remember, if it’s meant to be, it will be.

Take the time to write your fathering action plan by:

● Putting together a list of goals you want to accomplish, either personally or for the family.

● Make a list of action steps that need to be taken along the way to reaching that goal. Then,

● Be prepared to work on those action steps and start checking off those boxes.

So whether you are a team leader or a sports person, we all come across different forms of pressure in our lives. It’sIt’s the effort or preparation that adds to the joy so if you ever feel any pressure, find out if you are taking the right steps or prepared to take action. Just remember one thing: it’s the pressure that turns coal into a diamond, so be the diamond that you were destined to become.