Believe it or not, stress isn’t the enemy. In fact, changing how you think about stress can make you healthier. When you change your mind about stress, you can change your body’s response to stress.
Typically we interpret feelings of stress (heart pounding, fast breathing, breaking into a sweat) as anxiety but what if we viewed them as signs that our body is energizing and preparing to meet a challenge?
Kelly McGonigal, a health psychologist, shared a new study that found if you think of your stress response as helpful (your pounding heart is preparing you for action; breathing faster is getting more oxygen to your brain), you will not only be less stressed but also less anxious and more confident.
This one change could make a huge difference in your everyday life. The next time you feel your body responding to stress think to yourself ,“This is my body helping me rise to this challenge.”
You can see Ms. McGonigal’s full TED Talk on how to make stress your friend below.
