Stress itself is not necessarily negative. There is a type of stress called eustress, which occurs when we face a deadline for a task or assignment at school. This stress motivates us to study hard. When we succeed, we feel confident, happy, and successful. This stress pushes us to work hard, improve, and experience positive emotions.
With all that’s going on in our country, in our economy, in the world, and on social media, it feels like so many of us are under a great deal of stress. We know that chronic stress can be as unhealthy as smoking a quarter of a pack a day. For many of us, our work, our livelihood, is a particular cause of stress. Of course, a bit of stress is just fine, but what are stress management strategies that leaders use to become “Stress-Proof” at work? What are some great tweaks, hacks, and tips that help to reduce or even eliminate stress from work? As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing SIR BLAKE SINCLAIR.
Sir Blake Sinclair is a multi-published author, spiritualist, mystic, licensed occupational therapist, certified health coach, life coach and CEO at Ultima Unlimited Inc. He is also Grand Knight Commander for EOMA (Equestrian Order of Michael Archangel) and Goodwill Ambassador at Royal House of Ghassan.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to know how you got from “there to here.” Inspire us with your backstory!
What lessons would you share with yourself if you had the opportunity to meet your younger self?
I would tell myself to believe in yourself, persevere, and never give up. Prioritize health, make connections, and trust in yourself and in a higher power. Love yourself and know that you are special.
None of us are able to experience success without support along the way. Is there a particular person for whom you are grateful because of the support they gave you to grow you from “there to here?” Can you share that story and why you are grateful for them?
I am grateful to my wife for staying with me through life’s ups and downs. I was not easy to live with, often volatile like my dad when we married. Yet, she loved me still, weathering all seasons and challenges. She was there to uplift me in my lowest moments, supporting and believing in me unconditionally. She was my best friend, lover, cheerleader, and confidante. Through her steadfast love, I became a better person, eventually learning to accept and love myself. Her support enabled me to believe in myself, pursue even the impossible dream, which is now slowly becoming my reality.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think it might help people?
I am working on a big promotional campaign, supported by my publicist, aiming to do numerous interviews across various platforms to promote my books and share wisdom, knowledge, and love. The goal is to help heal, uplift, and support as many people as possible worldwide. Too many individuals are experiencing spiritual poverty or confusion, and many suffer from various forms of pain and illness due to a lack of guidance on health and wellness. My aim is to shift our perspective on health and spirituality, providing humanity with the tools needed for a healthier and more enlightened civilization.
Ok, thank you for sharing your inspired life. Let’s now talk about stress. How would you define stress?
It is the mental, physical, and emotional demands or energies that our bodies endure throughout life’s journey. Some stress drives us to improve, excel, and achieve success, while other stressors keep us safe from danger. However, some stress leaves us feeling lost, hopeless, depressed, and unwell. How we handle stress depends on factors like upbringing and the strength of our ego. Those with effective coping mechanisms manage stress well, while others may find it overwhelming. Without resolution, prolonged stress compromises our immune system, leading to early demise.
In the Western world, humans typically have their shelter, food, and survival needs met. So what has led to this chronic stress? Why are so many of us always stressed out?
What has led to chronic stress is the matrix that the Western world has created. It has constructed a pseudo-reality where happiness supposedly exists outside of us, through external beauty and material comforts, diverting us from introspection and the search for true happiness, joy, and success in life. Hollywood has played a key role in shaping this image of happiness, depicting it as being fit, attractive, wealthy, driving expensive cars, wearing lavish clothes, and living in luxurious homes — the American dream. Whether consciously or unconsciously, everyone strives for this ideal, and failing to achieve it leads to sadness and perpetuates stress.
Consequently, people feel compelled to chase these Hollywood ideals, often purchasing items they cannot afford and taking on multiple jobs to pay off credit card debt due to high interest rates. The rising cost of living, coupled with societal pressure to live extravagantly, has turned us into a nation of consumers and workaholics.
Social media exacerbates this phenomenon, as individuals curate idealized versions of their lives, leaving those who do not measure up feeling depressed or even suicidal, unable to fit in even in the virtual realm. In contrast, some Asian counterparts value people, relationships, and spirituality over material possessions, leading to a slower-paced lifestyle.
Another contributing factor to chronic stress is the constant bombardment of negative news and distressing images on TV and social media, aimed at boosting ratings. The more we expose ourselves to such content, the more stress we accumulate over time. Some individuals, like my college professor, have even experienced adverse health effects from prolonged exposure to TV, such as heart attacks, prompting them to cease watching altogether.
What are some of the physical manifestations of being under a lot of stress? How does the human body react to stress?
The physical manifestations of excessive stress may include fatigue, headaches, nervousness, insomnia, frequent illnesses, depression, anxiety, weight gain, brain fog, and pain. Stress triggers the sympathetic nervous system, the body’s fight-or-flight response mechanism. However, sustained stress leads to the production of cortisol, the stress hormone, which suppresses the immune system. This can awaken dormant viruses in the body, potentially causing autoimmune diseases. Stress can also impact the heart, leading to myocardial infarction or heart attack, and accelerate cancer growth. In summary, poorly managed prolonged stress can shorten lifespan.
Is stress necessarily a bad thing? Can stress ever be good for us?
Stress itself is not necessarily negative. There is a type of stress called eustress, which occurs when we face a deadline for a task or assignment at school. This stress motivates us to study hard. When we succeed, we feel confident, happy, and successful. This stress pushes us to work hard, improve, and experience positive emotions.
Is there a difference between being in a short term stressful situation versus an ongoing stress? Are there long term ramifications to living in a constant state of stress?
Yes, there is a difference between short-term stress and long-term stress. Short-term stress is the unpleasant experiences we all encounter occasionally, but it is brief, and typically, we move on. We may have stress-free experiences or positive ones that lift our spirits, and we move forward. These short-term stresses do not pose health concerns.
Is it even possible to eliminate stress?
Stress is inherent to the human condition. It cannot be eliminated, but significant reduction is possible through lifestyle changes and residing away from the hustle and bustle of a big city. Generally, the farther we distance ourselves from civilization, the lower the stress levels. However, inherent stress exists in wilderness living due to wild animals and such, although these are usually short-lived stressors. By cultivating the soul, seeking inner happiness, and embracing eternal rather than fleeting material things, we can achieve greater peace. When we search within for life’s meaning, live with love, gratitude, and compassion, serve others, and learn to detach from the material world, we begin to significantly reduce and eliminate stress.
In your opinion, is this something that we should be raising more awareness about, or is it a relatively small issue? Please explain what you mean.
Chronic stress is a significant issue, evident from the increasing number of people developing autoimmune diseases, strokes, heart attacks, and even cancer. If people learn to manage stress, change their lifestyle, and improve their diet, millions could live longer, happier lives. Additionally, fewer people would commit suicide.
Let’s talk about stress at work. Numerous studies show that job stress is the major source of stress for American adults and that it has escalated progressively over the past few decades. For you personally, if you are feeling that overall, work is going well, do you feel calm and peaceful, or is there always an underlying feeling of stress? Can you explain what you mean?
Working in home health therapies, one of the most stressful industries, I have developed coping skills to navigate my day more gracefully. Still, stress arises, especially when I have double my usual clients, travel long distances in heavy traffic, and deal with cranky individuals. On such days, I exercise, meditate, take magnesium, Rescue Remedy, listen to soothing music, read, use my Kloud unit, or listen to 852 hertz. Quality sleep is vital; without it, my stress coping mechanisms falter. These methods help me relax and regain my center.
My extensive 36-year tenure in the industry makes my stress manageable. As a top therapist in the Bay Area, excelling in holistic and integrative occupational therapy, work is mostly enjoyable and relaxing. Although working with complicated clients can be stressful, witnessing their improvement keeps me motivated.
While I managed my business for years, I have now hired a management team to further relax. When feeling overwhelmed, I practice Hotei Meditation to restore joy. Pampering myself with Reiki sessions helps relieve stress, particularly when absorbing others’ energies. Sometimes, being around negative individuals leaves me feeling sad, grumpy, or anxious, requiring an energetic cleanse like Reiki, sage smudging, or wiping with olive oil and Himalayan salt to remove dark energy attachments.
Okay, fantastic. Here is the main question of our interview: Can you share with our readers your “5 stress management strategies that busy leaders can use to become “Stress-Proof” at Work?” Please share a story or example for each.
Meditation is one of the most effective practices for strengthening auric fields, balancing chakras, and supporting a healthy ego. As the founder of U.U.M.M., I practice a chakra-focused meditation, which enhances each of the 7 chakras. After meditating, I surround myself with a protective bubble of light to shield against daily negative energies. When stress increases, I intensify my meditation, activating divine light and chakra energies to approach work confidently and joyfully. Before learning to meditate, stress drained me, leaving me fatigued and anxious at work. Now, meditation brings peace and confidence, especially before work.
It is crucial to be mindful of energy use before sleep and upon waking. Visualizing oneself working happily and confidently, surrounded by protective light, reinforces positivity. Avoiding immediate phone use upon waking prevents triggering addictive tendencies. Negative visualization can program the subconscious, manifesting stress; positive visualization and affirmations shift energy positively.
Exercise is vital for stress management. Pre-work exercise boosts energy, while post-work exercise relieves stress. During stressful periods, activities like Jazzercise improve mood and energy levels. Breathing techniques such as nasal breathing, box breathing, and the Wimhoff method, described in my book “A New Beginning: An Antidote to Civilization,” calm the nervous system. Helpful exercises include trampoline jumping, power walking, Tai Chi, Yoga, and Pilates.
Healthy eating and supplements influence well-being. Plant-based diets with minimal processed foods, carbs, and sweets, supplemented with fruits, vegetables, wild-caught salmon, walnuts, blueberries, mushrooms, and dark chocolate, enhance health. Adequate hydration and magnesium intake relax the body. Rescue Remedy, chamomile tea, and lavender offer additional relaxation. These strategies enable me to excel in a stressful job, managing twice the clients of most therapists while successfully running my company.
Building friendships and alliances at work fosters a supportive environment. Helping, sharing treats, and empathetic listening create camaraderie. Smiling and supporting colleagues lead to lasting friendships and career advancement. Establishing positive relationships prevented burnout and enabled me to thrive in a skilled nursing facility.
Do you have any favorite books, podcasts, or resources that have inspired you to live with more joy in life?
My favorite books include Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, The Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda, The Goddess Amongst Us by Acharya Mangalananda, The Essential Sri Anandamayi Ma by Alexander Lipski, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Dr. Deepak Chopra, The Bible, and the Bhagavad Gita. I derive immense joy from attending kirtan concerts, particularly those performed by Acharya Mangalananda, which I frequent.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
We are in a very important time in history, and humanity is undergoing the great awakening, but more need to awaken to their divinity and realize the power they possess. Many of us are being directly or indirectly influenced by the few behind the curtain of Oz. It is time to wake up and step into the sovereignty of our divinity, realizing that we are co-creators of our reality and can rewrite our future with the help of God and all the Ascended Masters. Each of us is precious and more powerful than we realize. By focusing on cultivating ourselves into a state of enlightenment consciousness, we can positively affect 70 million people. Living in the love consciousness can impact over 750,000 people. We can further help humanity evolve by:
- Fasting (TV, mainstream music, and social media fasting) or unplugging from the matrix. Starting with a 24-hour fast and progressing to longer periods can help curb emotional and mental addictions.
- Getting plugged into the Divine Consciousness and the divine realm through meditation, prayers, japa, and devotional and spiritual practices.
- Learning to listen to the I AM Presence, Holy Spirit, Atman, or gut within, instead of blindly following like sheep to be slaughtered. This behavioral change will significantly shift the planet towards a more enlightened civilization. These steps are the first towards creating such a civilization. Ultimately, if individuals learn to be modern-day Yogis, planetary changes will accelerate in energy shift and consciousness expansion. I share the steps and secrets in my third book, “A New Beginning: An Antidote to Civilization.”
- We must learn to coexist and live in unity, evolving from ego consciousness to unity consciousness and then into love consciousness. The Year of the Wood Dragon is an auspicious year of transformation and manifestation. With the support of the Universe, Ascended Masters, and Avatars like Sri Ananda Mayi Ma and many enlightened beings on the planet, let us embrace the divinity within to create a better tomorrow starting today.
What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?
They can follow me at my blog at www.blakesinclair.org, or on social media on Facebook at Blake Sinclair, or follow me on Instagram at sirblake_sinclairauthor.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.