Stress: The One You Can’t Escape

Let’s be honest: stress gets a bad rep.

It’s often framed as the villain, something to banish, avoid, or fix.

But if you’re someone who pushes for more - more impact, more growth, more meaning - then you already know:

Stress is not going anywhere.

Because the truth is, if you’re leaning into challenge, stepping outside your comfort zone, or doing anything that matters…

stress is going to be there.

Not as the enemy but as part of the process.

This is something I often work with in my work with high achievers, entrepreneurs, athletes, and leaders:

Stress is your constant companion. But it doesn’t have to be your captor.

When it’s understood and harnessed, it actually becomes your greatest strength.

The goal isn’t to eliminate stress.

(That’s a fantasy and a dangerous one at that.)

The goal is to learn how to work with it. 

To recognise when it’s fuelling you… and when it’s quietly wrecking you.

Here’s what we know from performance psychology:

Too little stress and you’re flat. Disengaged. No drive.

Too much stress and you’re overwhelmed, distracted, reactive.

But in between?

There’s a sweet spot. The Goldilocks zone.

Not too much. Not too little. Just enough to keep you sharp, present, and performing at your best.

This is the state we want to build your life - and leadership - around.

And the challenge is: it doesn’t happen by accident.

You need to be able to recognise the signals in your body.

You need tools to regulate when you overshoot or under-fire.

You need awareness, habits, and recovery strategies that actually stick.

Because without that?
Stress becomes chronic and toxic. 

It starts shaping how you speak, how you lead, how you relate to others… and eventually how you see yourself.

I won’t give all the answers here.
That’s the work I do, with individuals and teams.
To help people stop fearing stress, and start working with it.
To find that middle ground again, and again, and again.

And to harness stress to live the life you wish to lead.

Warmly,
Matt

P.S. If this hits close to home - if stress has stopped being useful and started becoming your default - I’d love to hear what’s showing up for you. Just hit reply.