I just read a report about how four prominent banking officials took their lives in a matter of six days. What was so horrible and unacceptable that it could bring these four individuals to so abruptly terminate their days on this earth?
I'm certain each of these four bankers had a different reason for cutting his life short but there is no doubt that each drastic act was prompted in good part by an inability to cope with today's stressful existence. Nothing is easy these days and anyone involved in financial matters is bending under a double dose of tension and anxiety.
Several months ago, I posted an article that discussed the situation experienced by Wall Street brokers and presented suggestions for reducing their stress. I could repeat the same recommendations for all bankers, financial advisors and all those caught up in the corporate world.
Stress Management
One of the first steps in stress management is to learn to breathe in a structured manner. Taking deep inhalations and focusing on long exhalations slows down the heart rate and allows the oxygen to flow freely throughout the body. The simple act of controlling your respiration will give you confidence that you can control other matters in your life. By calming your pulse you are introducing tranquility and calm into your life.
In fact, confidence is a key factor in controlling stress. People with a high degree of self-assurance manage to cope with life's woes more easily than those who never feel good enough and who need constant reassurances of their worth. No one is born with self-confidence. It is a trait that is encouraged and instilled from a very young age. But even those who reach adulthood can be taught how to acquire the necessary skills to succeed in whatever they are undertaking. There are all sorts of courses given by experts in their fields that teach people how to accept themselves and how good feelings can translate into a healthier lifestyle.
This may be an old fashioned concept, but I want to propose that in addition to self-help and motivational classes, erudition is a key factor in building confidence. The more you know about anything, the better your chances of making the right decisions in your life. Education broadens our minds and introduces us to opportunities we never knew we had. Knowing how to cook makes preparing a meal much more enjoyable. Catching up on the latest marketing tools helps us sell our product to more people. And taking financial tutorials introduces us to the world of investing so we can make the extra money we need to finish the month.
In today's constantly demanding world, it has become increasingly difficult to keep from falling behind. We are asked to make rapid decisions and for this we depend on our knowledge and experience. But all this can be overwhelming and many of us, like those unfortunate bankers, find that the stress and pressure is just too much to take. When we feel ourselves going under, it is time to seek help from professionals. Never suffer stress alone. The results could be catastrophic.