13
a
guidebook
by
CEO
Health
+
Safety
Leadership
Network
Encourage Rest and Rejuvenation
An uncertain work environment can overstimulate the sympathetic nervous system and
create chronic stress and burnout. Relatively harmless situations such as a full inbox,
looming deadlines, juggling priorities, and managing conflict at work can evoke a fight
or flight response, reduce the ability to cope and trigger a downward spiral.
The visual on this page shows two opposing spirals – an upward spiral and a downward
spiral.
Emotions and feelings that correlate to the upward spiral are joy, love, passion,
enthusiasm, hopefulness, contentment, freedom, empowerment, eagerness, happiness,
optimism, belief, and positivity.
Emotions and feelings that correspond with the downward spiral are frustration,
impatience, worry, rage, jealousy, insecurity, powerlessness, pessimism, irritation,
doubt, anger, hatred, guilt.
Freedom
Empowerment
Eagerness
Happiness
Optimism
Belief
Positivity
Joy
Love
Passion
Enthusiasm
Hopefulness
Contentment
UPWARD SPIRAL
DOWNWARD SPIRAL
Pessimism
Irritation
Doubt
Anger
Hatred
Guilt
Frustration
Impatience
Worry
Rage
Jealousy
Insecurity
Powerlessness
UPW
ARD
SPIRAL
DOWNWARD
SPI
RA
L
