Stress and Conflict... What's the Connection?

Stress and Conflict – What’s the connection? The voice of fear. In either case we are listening to the voice of fear tell us about some inadequacy we believe is a part of our being.

Let me use an example from my own life to illustrate what I’m talking about.

When I first began in the workforce, many years ago, one of the jobs I had was that of a receptionist. Unfortunately, I was always stressed out and in turn had a number of conflicts within myself and with others. What I learned many years later was that the reason I was stressed is because I was trying to perform responsibilities that went totally against my personality preference. In other words, I was trying to be an extrovert.

The job of a receptionist with all if its interruptions and being the voice of hospitality is very difficult for an extreme introvert – which I am. The responsibilities drained all of my energy during the day and when I went home in the evening I had no energy left for family and this created conflict.

I listened to the voice of fear in taking the job. You see, I was fearful no one else would hire me and so I took the job. After all it was a pay check.

Listening to the voice of fear in any situation will bring about stress and conflict at some point.

Take a look inside – How are you listening to the voice of fear?

Try this exercise:

1. Sit in a quiet place with a pencil and paper.

2. Make a list of all the things that you fear.

3. Imagine the world these fears create.

4. Make a second list next to the first – change each fear to a positive affirmation

5. Imagine the world these affirmations create.

Which world do you want to live in?