Stress. We all experience stress at some level every day just listening to the news about inflation, the war in Ukraine, mass shootings, baby formula shortage, or the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard trial. These events are stressors at a macro level. Add to that what is happening in our personal worlds at home and work, and trying to balance the demands we and others put on us. No wonder we are all stressed out.

Stress drains energy and prevents us from showing up in this world as our best version. Stress causes us to react rather than respond. It brings out the worst in us.

How do you cope with stress? How aware are you of your stressors? What habits do you revert to when you are stressed?

The way we react to stressors is deeply internalized and ingrained in us. Most people will have one or two default reactions to stress.

1. a) They might withdraw from the situation and internalize it
2. b) They might react with frustration, anger, and even violence.

Also, depending on your level of self-control and practice, you might be able to snap out of your stress reaction and return to your “normal” energy level quicker than others.

This series was created to help you optimize your environment, achieve a higher quality of life, and reach peak performance. The Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) identified six major stressors a.k.a. influencers that can rob us of energy: 

1. Spiritual
2. Mental
3. Emotional
4. Physical
5. Social
6. Environmental

Your spiritual influencers are the foundation of how you show up in this world and the workplace. They are defined as your individual values, thoughts of your purpose, goals, connection to others or higher powers, and beliefs. It could also be described as your “moral compass”.

Frequently, my clients struggle to balance their own spiritual beliefs with their employers’ culture, values, and vision, triggering them into a stress reaction. If you consistently compromise on your own spiritual influencers at work, energy drain will become unsustainable and unhealthy.

So, what can you do to make sure your connection to purpose, alignment with vision, values, and goals, and your ability to create balance is not being crushed by your manager or employer?

The first step is to draw awareness to the situation. Have you asked yourself what your core values are? What is your personal vision? What are you unwilling to compromise on? Once you have established the answers to these questions, it is paramount that you honor your values and set boundaries, even if it means quitting your job. 

Alignment with your spiritual influencers is critical. As a professional coach and certified Energy Leadership Master Practitioner, I have a tool that accurately measures how you show up in this world. It is called an Energy Leadership Index (ELI) assessment, and it evaluates your energy level on a typical day vs. when you are under stress. I utilize this tool with all my clients to help them gain a greater level of awareness, which is the basis for improving performance and unleashing the career of your dreams. If you are interested in learning more about working with me as your coach, contact me at angela@belladonnacareercoach.com.