Some Stress is Good

Can stress be a good thing? Not all stress aims to wrangle us into a tight knot of negativity. Instead, this seemingly unsettling force can push us to new heights, fueling our productivity and fostering growth.

Enter "eustress," the lesser-known cousin of distress. You might think of stress as a two-faced entity, with distress as the tormentor and eustress as the motivator. Endocrinologist Hans Selye coined the term "eustress" in 1975, framing it as a positive cognitive response to stress. For example, distress can knock you down, hampering creativity and productivity. Eustress, on the other hand, can lift you, enhancing your performance and well-being.

Telling the two apart is simple. Distress events weigh you down, fill your mind with anxiety, and lead to procrastination. Eustress energizes you, brings excitement, and drives you to perform at your best. The key lies in how we perceive and respond to challenges. Eustress emerges when we see a challenge as something within our ability to handle, which ramp up our focus and motivation.

Now, here's the kicker: you can stimulate eustress. How? By embracing positive stressors that are different for each one of us. It could be learning a new skill, starting a new job, or embarking on an adventure. Use it as a catalyst for growth and let it drive you to achieve more.

Craving more? Check out the source behind this Brain Snack!