What If Pressure Is An Illusion?
- Nov 28, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 2, 2024
Dr. Brian Hite, a renowned performance psychologist, coach, and Hollywood stuntman, helps individuals and organizations reimagine their relationship with pressure.
Pressure is a term we toss around like confetti in conversations about deadlines, decisions, and dilemmas. But what if I told you that the way we’ve been taught to think about pressure is completely wrong? What if I told you that pressure is not inevitable, that there is no such thing as a “pressure situation,” and that performing our best while experiencing pressure is impossible?
Let's start here: Pressure exists in the mind, not in the moment
Imagine two sales executives delivering the same pitch to a high-stakes client. One obsesses over the potential outcome, “What if I mess up? What if they say no?”—and feels paralyzed by pressure. The other focuses on their preparation, the key points they need to communicate, and the next sentence they’ll deliver. Same pitch, same stakes—one feels overwhelmed, the other in control.
The key difference? Focus. Pressure manifests when we fixate on potential outcomes—especially the negative ones. When we imagine the stakes and magnify the risks, suddenly, the moment feels like a mountain we're ill-equipped to climb. But when we refocus our attention on immediate, actionable steps—the things we can control—pressure dissolves.
I speak from experience when I talk about pressure. As a stuntman, I’ve faced undeniably high-stakes moments—being hit by cars, set on fire, thrown down stairs, and launched by ratchets. But those situations weren’t inherently high-pressure. Any pressure I’ve ever felt came from my own thoughts. I created it myself by thinking about the ramifications of failure. I’ve built a career performing at a high level because I’ve learned to eliminate pressure by focusing on the moment, not the stories my mind might create about the outcome.
By being present, I removed the illusion of pressure.
And, that same dynamic is true in every other high-stakes environment. When I worked with soldiers in the Army, I noticed a clear pattern: those who fixated on the importance of the mission or the possible consequences of failure often struggled under the weight of pressure. In contrast, soldiers who focused on the immediate—one action, one decision at a time—learned faster and performed not only better but more consistently. The stakes were the same, but their attention and perception determined whether they felt pressure or not.
So, how do we dispel this illusion of pressure?
Shift your perspective
See challenges not as threats but as opportunities to grow, adapt, and excel. When you make that mental shift—from fearing failure to embracing growth—pressure begins to dissipate. However, even when thinking about good consequences, we’re still thinking about consequences…imaginary future possibilities. As a result, at least some pressure is not only possible but probable. The present moment is the only place where the illusion of pressure completely disappears.
Challenge the myths
Pressure isn’t inevitable, and it’s not something you need to perform well. Pressure is not an external force beyond your control. Pressure is created by how and where we focus our attention. If we focus on imagined outcomes, we feel pressure. If we focus on controllable, actionable steps in the present, we don’t.
Anchor to the present
Practice mindfulness to train your brain to stay in the here and now. Instead of letting your mind spiral into what could go wrong (or right), direct your attention to all of the things you can do in this moment to set conditions for success.
Anybody who’s experienced it knows that pressure is real, but it’s a creation of the mind. It’s a function of how we choose to view our circumstances. So, the good news is that we have the power to eliminate it.
The next time pressure starts to creep in, pause, refocus, and remind yourself: Pressure Exists in the Mind, Not in the Moment.
Read more from Brian Hite, Ph.D.
Brian Hite, Ph.D., Owner/ CEO of Brian Hite Global
Dr. Brian Hite, a renowned performance psychologist, coach, and Hollywood stuntman, helps individuals and organizations redefine their relationship with pressure. Drawing on over 30 years of experience in high-stakes environments, he empowers clients to dismantle the illusion of pressure, unlock clarity, and achieve peak performance. As the creator of the PressureX program and author of Begin Again: Utilize the Wisdom of Eastern and Western Ideologies to Achieve Your Full Potential, Dr. Hite is currently working on his next book, Flow Under Fire: A Stuntman’s Guide to Pressure.
Discover more about Dr. Brian Hite’s work and resources here.
