Resilience to Stress

Just returned from Germany — and it struck me again how heavy the German angst feels these days. Conversations go around Ukraine war, migrants, crumbling infrastructure, export-reliant economies threatened by Trump‘s tariffs. Uncertainty is in the air — and so is the fear of job loss.

Back in Thailand, the mood isn’t much lighter. A suspended government. A shrinking economy. Border tensions with Cambodia. And yes — even Buddhist monks are hitting the headlines, distracted by earthly temptations.

We’re living through a time of global confusion, blurred leadership, and unrelenting crisis. And all of this inevitably bleeds into our workplaces — showing up as stress, emotional strain, or just a slow, steady erosion of focus.

No surprise: In my coaching sessions stress has become a dominant theme.

When pressure rises, here’s what I often observe:

·       Emotions surface easily:People become hypersensitive to feedback or minor setbacks.

·       Objective thinking drops: Analysis turns into reactivity.

·       Quality suffers. Avoidance grows. And human connection get disrupted.

Sound familiar?

But there are ways to rise above it. I see people not just survive stress but actually sharpen their performance under it.

What are they doing differently?

They radiate calmness. They know that panic rarely solves anything.

They focus on the task. When they’re working — they work. When the mind drifts to crisis — they allow it to happen, then take one or more deep breaths, sing a song, or go for a run. They don’t mix the two.

They manage time and mental energy. Deadlines still matter. They plan ahead, use techniques like the Pomodoro method or toggling, and create mental boundaries.

They reframe pressure. For some, pressure becomes a focusing tool. It cuts through noise and creates clarity.

They lift others. They support teammates, share tips, normalize the struggle — and spread that calm instead of the panic.

And most importantly: they keep their sense of humor. 

Resilience isn’t about pretending everything is fine. It’s about acknowledging the storm — and choosing how you stand in it.

I’d love to hear: how do you manage stress these days? What’s your anchor when things go downhill?

#Resilience #StressManagement #Leadership #Coaching #Mindfulness #MentalHealth #WorkplaceWellbeing#HRViaValue