Consider Your Positive Stress

Stress. What a word, huh?

Everyone in my world has met stress, knows her well, and would probably say they’d like to spend less time with her. I’ve been thinking about this topic lately for several reasons:

• A couple of people have commented recently saying that I “look stressed.” Don’t you just love when that happens to you? Not.
• I was visiting with a physician friend and the subject came up and she talked about the numbers of patients coming in to be evaluated for physical issues and the root diagnosis is “stress” – and patients don’t want to hear it!

Why is that? Do we want everyone to always think, “I can handle my stress?” Why would people rather have a bona-fide physical issue than take action to mitigate their stress?

I decided to do a little research and I want to present you with what may seem like basic, but easy to forget, reminders about stress.

1) Stress is a natural physical response to various demands placed upon the body.

2) Stress is not always negative.

We tend to look at any stress as horrible and avoid at all costs, but there is actually such a thing as healthy stress. This positive stress even has a name: “eustress,” as opposed to the more familiar term “distress” for negative stressors.

Healthy stress is defined as perceiving a stressful situation as an opportunity that will lead to a favorable outcome. Consider these examples:

• Job interviews
• Meeting a work deadline
• Vacation Travel
• Planning a celebration event
• Taking a class to learn or build a new skill
• Competing in a sporting event
• Falling in love or committing to work on a challenge with your spouse

Thinking about the above list, consider also these important characteristics of eustress:

• typically short lived
• keeps us alert and motivated
• helps us deal with a challenge or accomplish a task
• supports our overall feeling of aliveness and strength
• provides satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment

Who doesn’t want that!?

So….using these criteria, will you join me in naming the stressors you are experiencing – and building off last week’s tip – THINK – carefully about where you may be able to move something you have considered a negative stressor to the eustress category. I know I have some on my list that can be moved and I’m excited to do that and celebrate the change in perspective. How about you?

As always I welcome your thoughts and feedback.

If you’re interested in learning more ways to reduce your stress, consider personal coaching with me.

Gigi