The upside of stress
- Psychology
Stress is proclaimed to be at the root of virtually every ill we can imagine - from sleeplessness to cancer, cold sores to infertility. While we have become programmed to automatically see it as a negative thing, the truth is, we all need some stress in our lives.
As with most things, the trick is to find a balance. An optimal amount of stress keeps us on our toes, it provides the imperative to do something, and without it we would feel unmotivated. The flip side is too much stress – that grinding push with no end in sight which can incapacitate us and make us sick.
Some sources of stress are better than others. The familiar fight-or-flight response - that welcomed burst of energy experienced when the body prepares to either address imminent threat or run from it – is great stress! It sharpens your focus and mobilizes you deal with situations that arise unexpectedly. Those who claim to work best under pressure, have also learned to appreciate and use temporarily elevated stress levels.
Even bad stress – that which adds no value to our lives, can be harnessed to produce amazing benefits. As with most challenges in life, it provides us with a wealth of growth opportunities – an unhappy work environment, a lop-sided friendship, and a rebellious teenager can all have a silver lining.
When it manifests itself physically, stress gives us the chance to enhance our self-awareness by getting in touch with emotions which might otherwise be overlooked - what is it that’s causing the tightness between your shoulder blades or the pain in your stomach? Maybe you didn’t realize that being asked to take on more work at the office makes you angry, or how sad you’re really feeling about your last child leaving home.
Stress also provides a call to action - shining a spotlight on those areas of your life which require work. Maybe you’ve been ignoring the fact that all is not well in your marriage and your sister’s illness is more serious than you thought. Persistent stress is a clear indication that change is required and, amazingly – it can be the push we need to reach our full potential.
Navigating stressful times is what helps you develop good coping skills. Modern life requires resilience – that sense of control which can only be gained through experience. Difficult situations provide you with the opportunity to learn what you have the power to change. You may not be able to fix your aging mothers’ view of the world, but you can alter the way you approach her. Resilience is about focusing on what you can do rather than spinning your wheels trying to deal with things beyond your control. It is an invaluable asset to carry through life with you.
The need to manage stress may set you on a path towards of all kinds of benefits which you may not otherwise have bothered with– perhaps to better eating and exercise habits. You may find yourself learning to organize your time better, as well as how to prioritise and factor superfluous activities out of your life. Stress may also provide the encouragement you need to become better connected with others – alerting you to the need for an expanded support system or, conversely, to eliminate toxic relationships from your life.
Stress is here to stay, so I suggest you learn to celebrate it. Embrace its’ capacity to move you in a positive direction. Befriend it, work with it and you may be pleasantly surprised where you end up.