Oscar-winning actors Leonardo DiCaprio and the late Robin Williams. Two of the most decorated Olympians of all time, Simone Biles and Michael Phelps. Tennis sensation Naomi Osaka. What do all the people on this list have in common? Each has been forced to withdraw from their everyday lives to deal with an issue that is often too taboo to discuss in most circles, especially when performing at the highest level of any profession: mental well-being.
Biles, for example, has more Olympic medals than any gymnast in history, but during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, she was caught off guard by a case of “twists,” a dangerous phenomenon in which gymnasts lose awareness of where they are. in the air. In fact, it was so bad that Ella Biles voluntarily withdrew from the team finals, and at times during her recovery, she couldn’t complete a simple backflip without triggering a full-blown panic attack. Imagine that for a second. She was one of the most successful athletes of our time at the height of her profession, and she was terrified to attempt a flip.
I applaud their bravery in tackling an issue that has been swept under the rug for far too long, and was not at all surprised when people around the world characterized these people as weak and lacking the “it” factor to overcome those barriers. without having to make it public.
But how many of us drive to work every day with a knot in our stomach, fearful of the stress or triggers the day may bring? There are many who are shy to talk about their own struggles, even though it is affecting their businesses, marriages, family relationships, and physical health.
Recently, as more people are willing to shed light on the devastating toll stress can take on all of us, the decades of misinformation surrounding it is beginning to unravel. And this is no better illustrated than in the collision repair industry. We are at a time when workloads have been the highest in recent history, and the balance between maintaining your store and ensuring normal life balance is more blurred than ever. It’s the subject of this month’s feature article (p. 38), and it’s an eye-opening read on our industry and how much pressure shop owners and their employees put on themselves, even to the detriment of their overall well-being.
After reading the article, I recommend taking a close look in the mirror and being honest with yourself about whether you’re managing your stress correctly or heading down a more treacherous path. And your employees? Does it help or hinder them in maintaining that all-important work-life balance? Too many people continue to ignore their own mental well-being because it can be easily hidden from others. But like any other health problem, the sooner you tackle it, the better chance you have of not letting it get the better of you.
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