Our wellness coach, Malcolm Hood, explains how stress isn’t always bad for us.
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One of the most satisfying aspects of writing articles specifically for judges is the audience's readiness to consider all sides of the argument. As a result, there's a freedom of expression for the author, as readers absorb each fact or opinion, assimilate them, and move forward based on their own wisdom. This doesn't imply that judges are exceptional models of health and fitness, even though there may be no other vocation or group of people overflowing with as much acumen. It merely illustrates that the worst potential conflict of interest arises when we are personally involved in making important decisions — a surefire way of increasing stress when we are directly affected by the outcome. However, it doesn't have to be this way; we can, and should, use stress to our advantage.
Stress, much like propaganda, has an immediate negative impact when we read or speak the words "I am stressed." It's never considered a good thing, yet without stress, we do not function. If the All Blacks, Black Ferns, or other high-performance groups were to start competition without stress, the scoreboard would show a very negative result. What brings on more stress? A win or a loss? Yet, almost every article about stress tends to take a prosecutorial attitude and offers minimal defense of stress.
There is never a moment when the human body is not under stress. Even during sleep, multiple tensions and relaxations of body tissues occur. Movements, especially of muscles, result. A body without stress collapses, and if the brain is totally absolved from being stressed, we enter a vegetative state.
So, how is this helpful? Hopefully, already understanding that stress is not all bad, usually just normal and healthy, gives some counterargument to the notion that any stress is bad. Let's look at three scenarios: What stress do you really want?
"I just do not want to go to work today!" versus "You have just been fired from your work!"
"My children are driving me mad!" versus "Why can’t we get pregnant?"
"My spouse is driving me crazy!" versus "Why am I still single?"
Here are two scenarios previously unpublished. Both contain the same principles as a judge about to face a significant trial. The two important commands are:
Stress must be directional, and stress must be disciplined. Miss either or both, and ill effects will manifest somewhere.
The Welsh Centennial Rugby Test meant Wales could pick any opponent in the world to play. The Welsh were playing good rugby and decided the All Blacks were the most desired opponent. This was a huge game for the All Blacks, at Cardiff Arms Park against a good team, with about 65,000 Welsh in attendance, all singing "Land of Our Fathers." Our coach, Eric Watson, had committed to me as Fitness Coach and Physiotherapist to the All Blacks to break tradition and not train on the Friday before the game on Saturday. The team was brought to optimum peak performance, and any training the day before would alleviate stress (Slow Release Adrenaline), which was more useful for the test match than being burnt out at an unnecessary training session when all was in place (cf. Jury Trial). On Thursday night, Eric had misgivings and asked me to change my mind. He woke me at about midnight, 3am, and 6am, such was his concern. My response was, let us discuss it with the Team Manager, Ray Harper, at breakfast at 7am. Ray sided with me. The All Blacks beat Wales comprehensively, acknowledged by Wales as one of the most superior rugby performances witnessed. Directional stress, when liberated, paid off. Without the accumulated stress, another game of rugby would have ensued.