How would you rate your stress levels in the past year? Did you experience relatively little stress? Maybe a moderate amount. Or is it too much to measure? We often hear that stress is bad for us. It’s bad for our mind, and our body and might even contribute to an early death. But little do we know we can turn stress into a positive catalyst and lead a healthier life.
It’s a known fact that people who experienced a lot of stress in the previous year had an increased risk of dying (around 43% higher!). But, this was only true for the people who believed that stress is harmful to your health. What this means is that, while most people face a lot of stress, those who think stress can be helpful actually have a lower chance of dying from a stress-related cause.
So how can we change our belief from “stress is bad” to “stress is good”?
We need to change our perspective. All those signs, from sweaty palms before interviews and heart pounding before a presentation, are there to prepare you for the challenge. It’s like your body is giving you a pep talk. Your racing heart means it’s pumping more oxygen to your brain, allowing you to think clearer and focus better.
Once you’ve come to terms that stress helps boost your performance, you’ll feel more relaxed even when you’re stressed. You might be surprised to learn that these stressful yet relaxed moments are the same as those of courage and joy. (You’re terrified, but you’re excited to do it anyway!)
In Short
It’s time to stop avoiding stress and start hacking it to propel ourselves forward. With the right mindset, stress can be a positive catalyst to improve our health and boost our performance.