During the early part of my career, I adopted several mantras to help me get through stressful work situations.
One of my favorites was, “This, too, shall pass,” which I would say to myself when I had a major deadline approaching. It’s quite powerful, because it’s true when it comes to deadlines. Once you get to the deadline, whether the situation ended positively or negatively, it will have passed.
Another, which I continue to use: “If it was easy, anyone could do it.” The fact that you have talent and abilities not everyone has is special and should be celebrated. Acknowledging that can help you come to peace with the fact that you have found yourself in a challenging situation, a situation others will not find themselves in, because they don’t have what you bring to the table.
What made me think of these mantras was a quote I recently heard, attributed to Franklin D. Roosevelt: A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor. I like that one a lot as well.
And the last one I want to share is one that helps me avoid getting into stressful situations while accomplishing great things: “I can do anything, as long as I don’t have to do everything.” Teamwork has been one of the most important secrets to my success. I succeed by spending time doing what I am great at and love to do (what the Strategic Coach program calls Unique Ability®) and teaming with others who do what they are great at and love to do. With that approach, you can literally accomplish anything.
All my best,
David