The Hidden Power of Pressure

Pressure means things are expected of you. It means people count on you, and you count on yourself. It’s proof you matter.

It’s true that it can be annoying when you have other priorities ahead of what you’re being pressured for, and frankly if you don’t feel like being a part of what is ‘expected’ of you. Sometimes pressure is overdone with consistent reminders of what you’re ‘supposed’ to do, which can blur your thoughts or narrow them to focus on that particular objective. Doing so can prevent you from being present.

BUT, notice this only happens if that pressure is not only placed on you by other people, but self-inflicted. When you’ve accepted what you ‘ought’ to do, the voice that starts to apply pressure shifts from external to internal. You start to expect something from yourself, a new goal to achieve, something to complete. You start to hold yourself accountable - you owe yourself answers now.

Yes, I am romanticizing pressure. You know why? I think we tend to see it through a negative lens, which I admit is understandable, but on the other hand, pressure ensures we get. stuff. done. It’s like when you tell everyone you’re going to do something, you almost have no choice but to do it. So not only will other people expect you to come through, you will expect results from yourself.

Maybe the main purpose of pressure is goal setting AND accomplishing, in spite of where or who it emanates from. Not letting yourself down, achieving your goals, being relied on - all of that, which comes with pressure, is indeed a privilege.