Over the years, stress has gotten a bad rap. We’ve heard things like “it’s as bad as smoking” and “will lead to premature death.”

But what if all stress wasn’t the same?

*Spoiler alert* It’s not!

What research has found…

Some stress (the “good” kind, known as “eustress”) is actually necessary for us to thrive as humans. And it’s how we perceive the stress that accounts for how our body reacts to it.

Even positive experiences lead to stress, such as setting goals, having a baby, getting a new job, moving to a new home.

Without such changes, boredom would ensue, or even worse, depression.

Simply put, change is good!

The key to making stress work for you, is how you define these changes in your mind.

Research has shown that simply changing the word “threat” to “challenge” alleviates the “bad” stress and increases the “good” stress (eustress).

Wait a minute, so you’re telling me that I can change the stress in my body by simply changing my thoughts about it?

YES.

Ways to change “bad” stress to eustress:

• When you are “feeling stressed” ask yourself “how can I use this experience for me instead of blame it for how I’m feeling?
• Instead of telling yourself that you “have to” do something, remind yourself that you don’t “have to” do anything. You really don’t. Instead, say “I choose to” to remind yourself you always have a choice.
• Focus on what you can do instead of what is out of your control.
• Become solutions orientated instead of looking for problems.

When looking back on “stressful situations” whether big or small, make the conscious effort to tell the story from a mindset of what you overcame, learned, or how you grew, rather than being a powerless victim.

Then stress will no longer be the villain, and you’ll always be the hero.

Which is a pretty fantastic way to live!