Pressure Proof

Strategies and stories for busy, complicated lives.
by Paula Davis-Laack, JD, MAPP

Princesses Won't Become Presidents

"We need our boys to be as ambitious to contribute in the home, and we need our girls to be as ambitious to achieve in the workforce." This was Sheryl Sandberg's message at the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The Facebook COO, an ambitious, high-achieving woman in her own right, spoke of an "ambition gap" in the way we are raising young girls and boys. Read More

The Bitch and the Ditz: Mainstream Media's Negative Impact on Women and Girls

This phrase was used in a New York Magazine article describing the destructive labels used by mainstream media to describe women; in this case, specifically referring to Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin, respectively, regarding the 2008 Presidential campaign. Read More

The Challenge for Smart Girls...and Smart Women

Early last year, social psychologist and Psychology Today blogger, Heidi Grant Halvorson articulated reasons why men and women judge their abilities differently. Read More

Will Burnout Spark the Next Economic Boom?

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High-Achieving Women Think Differently: 7 Mindsets That Can Cause You Stress

People carry with them a set of rules or beliefs about the way they feel the world should operate. These beliefs are shaped by your experiences, the way you were raised, your values, your friends, popular culture, and more. Read More

High-Achieving Women Need More Than a Bubble Bath

Last week, I reconnected with two outstanding women. The first, a human resources executive I know from a law firm I worked at; and the second, a talented attorney I worked with several years ago. We caught up with each others' lives, and I told them about my next business venture. Read More

Eight Ways to Have a Healthier and Happier Thanksgiving

You've been traveling at a hectic pace this year, but you are fast approaching the day when you can take a pause and reconnect with friends and family. Here are eight strategies for a healthier and happier Thanksgiving: Read More

7 Strategies for Building Your Family's Resilience

     It's an understatement to say that life these days is a bit hectic. Many adults work extended schedules and carry work pressures home with them each night, while kids are over-scheduled and buried in homework. Twenty-first century families face different challenges than families just a few decades ago, which makes building resilience even more important. Read More

The Work/Life Balance Myth

     Wake up after too little sleep, think about exercising, hit the snooze button, drag yourself out of bed, wake up the kids for school, start the coffee, take a shower, wake up the kids again, make breakfast, pack lunches, read email, quickly kiss your significant other goodbye, answer emails and deal with the first crisis of the day on your way to the office, get to the Read More

Create Your Fountain of Youth by Managing Chronic Stress

     As a Type-A recovering lawyer, stress used to be my main source of fuel. I ignored the notion that stress could be harmful and rolled my eyes at the so-called experts who all said basically the same thing. What eventually got my attention was my own experience with the damaging effects of chronic stress. Read More

Find Your Strong: 8 Ways to Perform at Your Best

Manage stress, find balance, and get out of the weeds. Read More

Is Work a Source of Stress or Happiness for Most People?

In an article by Forbes blogger, Jenna Goudreau, entitled "Why Working is the Secret to Happiness," she argues that stress-free living is not a clear path to happiness; instead, such peace and stillness might be making us miserable. In support of that statement, Ms. Read More

3,000 Walks: 6 Life Lessons (Re)Learned Walking the World's Sweetest Golden Retriever

Six years ago, a fifteen pound ball of fur entered my life and changed it for the better. My husband had been after me to get a dog for several years. I had not grown up with pets and was reluctant to take on all the work that can come with having a canine companion. Read More

Answering Maria Shriver: Ways to Navigate Life's Adversities

They say that the only things you can count on in life are death and taxes; well, I'd like to add one more thing to that list -- adversity. I guarantee you will experience a few down's with your up's as you go through life, some worse than others Read More

7 Stress Tips I Wish I'd Known before I Entered the Real World

As graduation approaches for many people around the country in the next few weeks, I've been reflecting on the nine years that have passed since I received my law degree. The date was May 20, 2002, and I remember gliding across the graduation platform to shake the dean's hand and grasp my hard-earned diploma. Read More

Create a 25th Hour in Your Day by Answering These 5 Questions

I've had the opportunity this past year to talk to a wide range of professionals, and a consistent question I hear is, "How do I do more with less?" In addition, you are telling me that your busyness and disconnection are at an all time high. Read More

Run Like a Girl: 7 Ways to Retain & Promote Top-Performing Women

After spending over a decade in the legal profession, much of it as a practicing attorney, I spent a great deal of time observing the career paths of talented women.  Frustrated by the lack of inclusion of women in the partnership ranks, I often felt that those who led organizations were disconnected from the world women live in today.  I now understand that what I thought was specifi Read More

The Angel & Devil in Your Head: 4 Ways to Increase Willpower

Valentine's Day pretty much sucked for me this year. Picture it ladies - takeout food, the current issue of O, The Oprah Magazine, and the latest installment of The Bachelor - probably about a 7 or an 8 on the pathetic meter. I should say that my husband was traveling out of town for work, and I don't typically celebrate the holiday, but I was missing him and wishing he was at home. Read More

Road to Recovery: How a Failed Surgery Inspired Strength

Louis L'Amour once wrote, "There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning." I stumbled upon this quote a few years ago, and I thought of it again as I talked to Sherry. She was kind enough to share with me the details of how a simple surgical procedure turned into a fight for her life. Here is Sherry's story, told in her own words.... Read More

Resilience the Green Bay Packer Way

As a former athlete and follower of all things competitive, I often look to sporting events to find examples of resilience, overcoming adversity, and inspiration. As a lifelong Packer fan, I was elated when my team (and I can say that as I own one whole share of the team!) won the Super Bowl last night. Read More

4 Months & 22 Days: One Mother's Story of Resilience

The Club No Parent Wants to Join Read More

7 Easy Resilience Strategies for Busy, Complicated Lives

In the past few months, I've seen the term "resilience" applied to everything from real estate, to the economy, sports, current events, business, and more. While the resilience label gets applied to any story about challenge or hardship, what really is resilience? Read More

Is the American Dream Still Alive?

Suze Orman has me all riled up. In a recent blog post, Forbes, writer, Jenna Goudreau, quoted Suze Orman as saying this: "My only fear in life, when it comes to money, is what's happening in the United States of America. The American dream is dead for the majority of America." Read More

Hurricanes & Happy Endings

What would you do if you lost a loved one, survived a natural disaster, re-located to a state nowhere near your family and friends, and decided to start divorce proceedings - all in the same year? Not many of us will have to face all of those life challenges, let alone face them in a 12-month period, but that is exactly what happened to Gazelle. Read More

Pressure Proof

As I sit at my desk excitedly writing my first blog post about resilience, my golden retriever Sadie, sitting at my feet, I find myself reflecting on the past few years. There have been up's and down's, both big and small; but, I'm still standing, and that's what I want for you too. Read More

Paula Davis-Laack, JD, MAPP, is a stress management and work/life performance expert providing strategies for a healthier, more resilient you.

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