Powering through Pressure

Chapter Four

Thinking positively when it feels difficult

Pressure is a word that is misused in our vocabulary. When you start thinking of pressure, it’s because you’ve started to think of failure.

TOMMY LASORDA

One of the fundamental aspects of our ability to deal with pressure situations is the absolute relationship between our perception of what is happening, what we then think, the feelings that follow and, ultimately, our response to situations. Once we accept this to be true then we feel empowered to make changes when we are under pressure, based on knowing that we have a range of choices. We also do not have to accept the first or most obvious option that becomes available. This pattern of response is often based on what we have learnt ...