Consider two points of view or thinking: "Stress is harmful " and" stress is beneficial." Here are some statements related to each mindset:
1. Stress shall be harmful:
- Stress blocks my learning, growth and productivity.
- Stress worsens my health and my zest levels.
- Stress should be avoided, as its consequences are negative.
2. Stress is useful:
- Stress enhances my learning, growth and productivity.
- Stress improves my health and my zest levels.
- Stress should be used, as its results are positive.
Which of these two statements do you more agree severely? Is it "stress is a harmful" or "stress is beneficial"?
Consider the reason(s) that you chose this statement. What do you remember? If you are like most people, you generally think that stress is harmful. It turns out that thinking can do more harm to you than good. "Stress is helpful" thinking can bring you great benefits.
Stress is generally considered bad - something negative that hurts. In part, this is because stress has gotten bad rap over the years. And some of this is a good reason. There is no doubt that stress can harm you, negatively affect you at all levels - physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual. Too much stress, called distress or chronic stress, can cause certain diseases and disorders, worsen existing pain and chronic diseases, and cause problems such as anxiety, depression, isolation and burns.
With all this in mind, how can stress be good for you? Stress researchers such as Alia Crum and Kelly McGonagall at Stanford University have been researching stress and related thinking for years. They offer statements and beliefs about stress to their research subjects, as well as the ones they have just read.
They then test their subjects on several measures, such as how well people manage stress, how high their level of well-being is, physiological indicators such as the level of stress hormones in their bodies, and various measures of life functioning. What they consistently find is that people who believe stress is beneficial are more satisfied with life, less depressed, more productive and happier at work, and have greater confidence that they can handle life's challenges. They are find more meaning in the struggles of life (McGonigal 2015).
Changing the way you think about stress
Perhaps very few people approach all situations with a "stress is bad" approach. At the same time, many people can benefit from improving their thinking about stress.
Research studies have shown that stress is most harmful if the stress makes you feel inadequate, out of control or worthless, or isolated from others (McGonigal 2015). I have coined these three categories as the "Three H's" of stress risk: helplessness, hopelessness, and hiding.
When you're overwhelmed by the stresses of life, do you feel helpless, like you can't do anything?
Do you feel hopeless - do you feel that life will always be difficult for you?
Do you want to avoid or hide from stressors through food, alcohol, procrastination at work, neglecting daily tasks, isolating yourself from friends, or bottling up your feelings?
As a new strategy, why not enlist the help of your most energetic, core qualities that are already within you? Strengths of your character!
Hide management
Use the power of your curiosity and ask one person in your life one new question. This can lead to further curiosity and questioning until you suddenly realize you are in the middle of an important conversation. And what better way to talk about stress-related feelings?
Managing hopelessness
Play to your signature strengths. When we feel hopeless, we forget our core strengths. We forget that our strength can sustain us. Use one of your greatest strengths today. And another one tomorrow. If you're feeling great, take the long way home from work and drive through the countryside with the windows down, enjoying the fresh air and the beauty of the scenery.
Managing helplessness
Channel your strengths in persistence, foresight, or leadership and do one thing to help you feel in control. One thing right now. Your leadership power empowers you to take responsibility to move away from thoughts of destructive helplessness to empowerment, your foresight helps you mentally plan one thing, and your tenacity helps you take that action and accomplish that one task, no matter how small. Completing this one thing, using your inner strength, can create a positive wave of greater control.
A final thought
You may be skeptical of some. Do people who are helped by stress simply experience less stress in their lives? No. Researchers have investigated this possibility and found that people with both mindsets experience suffering and stress equally. In other words, stress is a part of life that cannot be missed by anyone. We all have stress, but we don't all think about it the same way.
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