Stress gets a really bad rap. But did you know it can actually be good for you? Something that high performers share - whether it’s in a successful entrepreneur, Olympic athlete or superstar musician - is a high tolerance for stress and discomfort. The good news is that this is a skill you can cultivate. Stress, fear and discomfort are inevitable when you are trying to do something bold and new. Today’s episode dives into the concept of stress capacity via a cinematic metaphor from Wicked and an invitation to reflect on the tools you may already have in your toolkit for managing stress. We discuss the importance of building a support network of friends and peers who are on a similar path to you, rather than relying on loved ones who perhaps have a different and more conservative relationship to risk. We explore the different states of the autonomic nervous system via Stephen Porges’ work on Polyvagal Theory: the ventral vagal state (regulation), the dorsal vagal state (aka hypoarousal or collapse / shutdown), and sympathetic arousal (aka hyperarousal or fight / flight). We also explore two blended states which are different combinations of those listed above: a) freeze, where we feel simultaneous stress activation and immobilisation, and b) most significantly for this episode, the state of play, where we learn to use stress activation to our advantage. Each time we practice operating in this state of play (which by the way can feel very uncomfortable), we stretch our capacity, and take a step closer to achieving our most audacious goals. If you’d like support in bringing YOUR most audacious goals to life - whether you’re a startup seeking clarity, a scaleup experiencing growing pains, or a leader wanting to step into your fullest capacity - I can help you! Bhakti Lab, my brand new incubator for soul-led entrepreneurs, is open for business. You can view more details or book a free 20-minute strategy call via my website www.madeleineeliza.com/bhakti-lab