| Many people who have long dreamed of being | | | | patiently while someone else gets to decide whether I |
| self-employed, or owning their own business, allow their | | | | get to keep my afternoon appointment with my Dr., or |
| desire to simply remain a dream. For each person, the | | | | whether I'll have to reschedule it for another day. |
| reasons will differ, but at the core, for most people, is a | | | | Studies show I'm not alone. |
| belief that they would find not having a guaranteed | | | | In terms of cardiovascular risk and metabolic diseases |
| income too stressful. If the last couple of years have | | | | such as diabetes, for example, the formula is rather |
| highlighted anything worth noticing, it's the fact that no | | | | simple. Those who are in a high expectation/low |
| one has a guaranteed income- including those who | | | | control position (have a demanding job and exert little |
| have invested 40 years with one company, and have | | | | control over the process) are hit the hardest. |
| been collecting their pension or retirement fund. Sadly, | | | | Between the "demand" and "control" variables, |
| many have discovered that it can all vanish in an | | | | contrary to what you might think, "demand" isn't that |
| instant. | | | | significant; those who are in a LOW expectation job, |
| Today, more than ever, the only real security is found | | | | but still have very little control, suffer a great deal more, |
| in having the confidence, competence, and ultimately, | | | | from a health perspective than those who find |
| the willingness to be able to generate income by | | | | themselves in a HIGH demand job, but who also have |
| creating value for others. | | | | a great deal of control. |
| One key factor in how much stressing we take part in | | | | I had a client by the name of D. Watson when I lived in |
| is how much control we think we have. The keyword | | | | Guam. He had arrived on island some 10 years before |
| here is "think" even this can be taken away "just | | | | with $1400 and a goal. |
| because". As many self-employed people will tell you | | | | At the time I worked with him, he was easily worth $10 |
| (even those experiencing financial hardships) the stress | | | | million dollars. From the outside, looking in, the number of |
| they experience is much less destructive than that of | | | | things he had going on in his life, and the number of |
| someone with a "guaranteed income and benefits" | | | | times each day he encountered frustration would have |
| Key Point: To the degree we feel our control over a | | | | looked to be tortuous to the casual observer. What |
| situation is limited; our stress response will be more | | | | Watson experienced, however, and what science |
| extreme | | | | now documents, is that because he had a high degree |
| When researchers studying the role of control in | | | | of control over his daily behaviors and actions, his body |
| managing stress, they discovered something far more | | | | was likely producing far fewer stress hormones than |
| interesting than what they could have imagined. They | | | | the guy with a fairly low key job, who had to "keep his |
| had two groups of people they exposed to very loud | | | | fingers crossed" that they would "let" him take the |
| and irritating noises. Group "A", was given a button and | | | | vacation time he had earned, when he wanted to. |
| told that by pushing it, they could lessen the frequency | | | | As you consider these findings, it might benefit you to |
| and intensity of the noise. In truth, however, the button | | | | ask: |
| had no influence whatsoever over the noise. Group "B" | | | | How much control do I currently have in my work? |
| had no such button. | | | | If I choose to stay where I am, what can I do to, at the |
| Group "A" experienced a significantly lower stress | | | | very least, have the perception of having more |
| response. As it turns out, it's not the ability to actually | | | | control? (Remember- simply believing you have control |
| control things that matters most; it's the belief that we | | | | can make a BIG difference.) |
| have control that seems to be the most critical | | | | How can I give those who work for me a greater |
| variable. | | | | feeling of control? |
| We're told that exercise is a magnificent stress | | | | What are the consequences to me, if I remain in a |
| reducer, and for good reason; in many situations, it IS. | | | | situation where I feel/have very little control? |
| This isn't always the case, though. In fact, exercise can | | | | Why do so many people continue to be afraid to fly, |
| actually be quite counter-productive. When people are | | | | even though statistics show that it's one of the safest |
| exercising because they want to, and actually have | | | | modes of travel around? One word-; CONTROL. |
| some level of desire to be doing so, the benefits are | | | | When people are buckled into their seat on an airplane, |
| incredible. When someone is coerced into exercise- | | | | they can feel helpless. There are 2-3 people in the |
| feeling forced -the same amount of exercise they will | | | | cockpit, the door is locked shut, and the passengers |
| have an enormous stress response. Instead of being | | | | are at the mercy of the crew. NO CONTROL |
| flooded with a hormonal rush of physiological | | | | Conversely, driving a car is statistically one of the most |
| relaxation, stress hormones like cortisol, for example, | | | | dangerous things we do on any given day. How come |
| will shoot through the ceiling. | | | | we don't tremble each time we reach for the door |
| I've been self-employed, far too long now, to imagine | | | | handle? It's simple; we think we can drive better than |
| having to ask someone for a day off, or to take my | | | | we actually do, and, because we are behind the |
| lunch break at a different time than usual. In fact, I have | | | | wheel-because we feel in CONTROL- we make the |
| a phobia-one I'd like to keep forever- and break out in | | | | mistake of thinking we are safer as well. As you |
| a cold sweat every time I imagine having to wait | | | | know, that's just not the case. |