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“Pressure is a privilege.” ~Billie Jean King
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Does it ever feel like pressure is out to get you?
For years, experts in performance psychology have told us that pressure is the “enemy of success.”
It seems logical, right?
After all, under pressure, things can go sideways. Deadlines get blown. People choke. Sometimes, terrible things happen.
But here’s the twist: pressure isn’t the bad guy.
It can be one of your most unexpected allies—if you allow it.
Think about it: What’s a deadline, if not pressure’s way of snapping us out of procrastination and forcing us to get things done?
At the Olympics—where the stakes are enormous and the pressure is sky-high—not all athletes crumble; in every Olympics, world and Olympic records are set.
Why is that?
If pressure were truly the enemy of success, why are so many ‘successful’ people known for navigating pressure-filled waters?
Consider Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, or Nelson Mandela. Weren’t they immersed in some of the most pressure-packed circumstances imaginable?
Isn’t their heroism defined by how they navigated that pressure, rather than crumbled under it?
Here’s the truth: Pressure isn’t inherently good or bad—it’s neutral, precisely like the force of habit.
Whether we like it or not, it’s not going away anytime soon.
Pressure was with you the day you were born, and it’s certain to be with you until your final breath.
Thus, it’s probably worth understanding it better.
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Enter: The Pressure Paradox® —the sequel to The Habit Factor®.
Turns out, there’s a simple mantra—a formula—for navigating pressure, and it’s detailed extensively in The Pressure Paradox®; it’s identified simply as “The 3 P’s.”
Plan. Prepare. Practice.
PLAN:
Picture the ideal outcome. Envision the best-case scenario on the other side of your pressure-filled situation. Visualizing where you want to go keeps your focus on the goal instead of spiraling into fear or doubt.
PREPARE:
Preparation is about adding resources—whether it’s time, tools, experts/people, or anything else that makes sense for the challenge.
The equation is a simple one most of us learned in seventh grade:
P = F/A. Pressure equals Force divided by Area.
By adding to the “Area”—increasing the resources (time, money, people, etc) —you diminish the force and thus, the corresponding pressure.
The Final “P”: PRACTICE
Practice. Practice. Practice. & Practice.
Practice can have at least four different levels (more detail in The Pressure Paradox®).
Practice and repetition help to develop confidence and automaticity, which in turn help to improve performance.
Consider why schools have fire drills. They practice so that in the event of a real emergency (a pressure-ridden event), people have planned, prepared, and practiced.
Still not convinced?
Exhibit #1: the U.S. military.
The entire occupation revolves around managing and operating under extreme pressure—when lives are on the line.
What’s their approach?
They PLAN, PREPARE, and PRACTICE relentlessly—as in 24/7.
So the next time you’re staring down a big challenge, ask yourself:
Am I resisting, or can I make this situation work for me?
Can I make pressure an ally?
Enjoy the show!
~mg
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Start tracking your habits today, and watch how quickly your goals manifest.
Grab the Helm Captain!
Follow The Habit Factor’s P.A.R.R. Methodology for habit tracking (it’s only proved effective for 15 years. 👇
Try to comprehend the value of 15 years’ worth of behavior change.
Plan: What key habits are aligned with your goal? What are the “Target Days” to perform the behavior? What is the “Minimum Success Criteria”? (Instructional Video Here)
Act: Do the thing. Small steps count.
Record: Track your progress. Ideally, daily but NOT a requirement. (See video above 👆)
Reassess: Reflect and adjust your course, ideally after 28 days of tracking data.
GOOD HABITS HAPPEN WHEN PLANNED;
BAD HABITS HAPPEN ON THEIR OWN.
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New listeners, grab your free habits 2 goals tracking template here: https://thehabitfactor.com/templates
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To learn more about P.A.R.R., just Google “P.A.R.R. and The Habit Factor.”
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