One of my personal favorite quotes is by business philosopher and personal development leader, Jim Rohn, who stated,
“You are the average of the five people you spend most of your time with.”
I have always found this quote to be inspiring, motivating me to surround myself with driven, upbeat people. After all, positivity breeds positivity. However, what if we cannot rightfully choose who we spend most of our time with? That is the case for many people who spend the vast majority of their waking hours surrounded by colleagues at work. This can be a pleasant and even uplifting experience unless you find that your fellow co-workers seem constantly stressed….
And we are a very stressed-out nation.
For the past 11 years, the American Psychological Association has conducted an annual Stress in AmericaTM poll to assess our nation’s perceived level of stress. According to their most recent survey, stress is at an all-time record high in our nation. Are you surprised?
Now it’s important to remember that not all stress is bad. Stress can even be motivating, helping us to achieve our goals. On the other hand, exposure to chronic stress can wreak havoc on the body, both mentally and physically. Stress suppresses the immune system and has been linked to conditions like anxiety, depression, insomnia, weight gain, muscle pain, high blood pressure, and even heart disease. Furthermore, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), stress plays a major role in five out of the six leading causes of death.
Lateral Leadership 