Who Are You Under Pressure?

By Paula Renaye

One way to bring out the best—or the worst—in each of us is to put us under pressure.

Some pressures push us to go beyond what we believed possible—to do what we never imagined we could. Others leave us curled in the corner sucking our thumbs. Still others unleash parts of ourselves we never knew existed—and wish didn’t.

So, the question is, which one is the “real” you? Are you the courageous amazing person who accomplished the impossible? Stayed calm when others panicked? Turned away out of fear? Or the one who came completely uncorked and blew like a geyser, spewing forth the unimaginable?

The answer is obvious—they all are parts of whole self. Some aspects we consciously tend to—and work hard to put a pretty face on. Others are unacknowledged “shadow” sides that crop up and catch us unaware.

And here’s the kicker to it all. When we aren’t being our authentic selves consciously, the pressure builds subconsciously, and eventually all that internal conflict is going to reach a pop-off point.

We can go for years, ignoring the twinges that tell us things are not okay. We may not be happy, but we’re going along and it’s manageable. However, when external pressure is applied—such as from a financial, career, health or personal crisis—it’s like putting all the internal conflict into a pressure cooker and cranking up the fire.

The resentment and anger that’s been brewing for years is going to redline that dial and it isn’t going to be pretty when it comes out.

So, what do you do to avoid an explosion or implosion?

It’s simple: don’t ignore the twinge. Even if it’s uncomfortable—and it is or you wouldn’t want to ignore it—deal with it right then and there. It may not be pleasant, but it will be a whole lot worse if you let it build up.

Life turns up the heat on us from time to time—that’s just life. When you’re true to yourself—when you’re authentically you—you aren’t pretending to be someone you’re not, nor are you pretending that things are okay when they really aren’t, and that keeps the lid off the pressure cooker.

Side Note: I have to share that The Hardline Self Help Handbook has just won the Global eBook Finalist Award, adding to awards from Readers Favorite and the National Indie Excellence Book Awards. Self Help is a really big pond and to be honored with these awards is amazing and humbling.

Paula Renaye is the author of the multi-award-winning Hardline Self Help Handbook. For practical and useable techniques to kick your life in to high gear, visit http://hardlineselfhelp.com for more information about this author.