“Stress is like a mirror—it reflects what matters most to you. The question is, will you fight it or learn from it?” Most of us think that stress is something negative that we should avoid. What if stress is not always an enemy? Stress can be a significant motivator for personal growth. By understanding stress well, we can manage it effectively. Here’s how
What is stress?
Stress is a reaction to a situation – it isn’t about the actual situation. We usually feel stressed when we think that the demands of the problem exceed our resources to cope with it. For example, someone who feels comfortable speaking in public may not worry about giving a presentation. In contrast, someone who isn’t confident in their skills may feel a lot of stress about an upcoming presentation. (Canadian Centre for Occupational and Safety.
What happens in our bodies during stress?
Stress is a common mechanism of our body telling us to take action against a perceived threat through the fight or flight response. It is a common response to protect our system. When the brain perceives a threat, it initiates a response of fight or flight to defend itself by secreting certain hormones. Once the particular threat is removed, the brain switches back to its normal state. Here’s the bad part: if there is constant stress going on in our mind, the brain stays alert in the same fight or flight mode continuously assuming that the threat is always there, and that’s why Prolonged Stress may lead to health conditions.
Types of stress: Eustress and Distress
Eustress is a positive, short-term stress that energises and motivates you, such as preparing for a big event. Once you’re done with the event, Stress is gone, fulfilment and a sense of achievement come in. This kind of stress may motivate you to bring out the best in yourself.
While distress is opposite and negative, it may be short-term or long-term. This kind of overwhelming stress is harmful and leads to anxiety and burnout, such as when dealing with financial hardship or illness.
While Distress is overwhelming and shows a lack of coping mechanisms and being in an unresourceful state, Eustress is rewarding and motivating. Understanding the difference between these two can help us identify the kind of stress we are having and enable us to act towards it.
Mindset is a state of mind that influences how people think about and then enact their goal-directed activities… (APA 2023) It is a person’s way of thinking and their opinion about a certain subject.
Here is a question? Isn’t it the mindset that we have on the situation that vastly influences our reaction towards that situation? If the answer is yes, then if we change our perspective towards the situation, wouldn’t it automatically change our mindset and open up more space for solutions and new possibilities? APA explains this as an implemental mindset, in which a person has made a choice and executed particular actions to realise a goal.
If you notice is not the stressor but the mindset, and a shift in mindset, leads to a resourced state, viewing the problem in a different light, which may change the stressful situation into a motivational force for personal growth. For example, a student stressed about his exams because he didn’t prepare well. He can handle the situation either by panicking, or he may reframe the problem, find a new perspective, choose to prepare and schedule the study time to prepare well to get better results.
“Most people have the mindset that stressful situations are inherently debilitating. They’re going to ultimately make us sick, make us struggle, make us crumble under pressure. And when you look at the truth about stress, which is like most things, very complicated, you realise that that is a simplified assumption. It’s not necessarily wrong, but it’s only one way of viewing stress, and you start to realise that the true nature of stress is more complex.
And in fact, there’s a whole other side of stress that reveals to us that the body’s stress response, the mind’s stress response, was not designed to be debilitating, but instead designed to help us elevate our performance and behaviour to meet the demands we’re facing.
The whole side of stress shows that it can have enhancing qualities on our cognitive functioning, our physical health and on how we behave and interact with others. And so, our work is not necessarily to find out the truth of stress, what it is or what it isn’t. But to look at how our mindsets, the core assumptions we make about it, shape how we respond in stressful situations. And what we’ve found is that if we can get people to open their minds to the notion that stress can be enhancing. That stress can help you rise to a new level of understanding, can deepen your connection with others, and can make you even physiologically grow tougher and stronger. Having that focus shifts our attention and behaviours in ways that make that mindset truer. ( Alia, Stanford Business School professor)”
Mindset coaching
Figure out the root cause:
Stress often shows the underlying value. If you are stressed about the deadline, then it may be your value on the point of excellence. Understanding your underlying value may help you to understand the situation deeper.
Some of the questions you may reflect on
- What is the underlying value here?
- How can I make it a positive and resourceful state?
Reframing stress into growth
- Reframing Stress into Growth
- Pause it and name it
- ‘Instead of saying, I’m stressed, try, I’m feeling challenged now
- This small shift in the word gives more room for solution and reduces panic.
Chunk it down
- Make it small and achievable steps rather than a big goal
Use stress as Fuel
- Fix yourself a reward when you meet the deadline.
- This reward may motivate you to reach the task before the deadline.
Other useful tips:
Reframing
Reframing the current problem gives a different perspective on the situation and widens the solutions.
Look for a supportive Environment
Connect with positive influences and create a supportive and friendly environment to create a positive atmosphere of thinking.
Evaluate the quality of your thoughts
Figure out negative self-talk and negative overwhelming emotions, and eliminate them. Learn the techniques. Mindfulness may help one feel calm and grounded.
Set a healthy routine
Follow a regular self-care routine, like exercise and engage in hobbies which you like.
Eating healthy and setting a regular bedtime.
In conclusion, Stress doesn’t need to be the villain of our story. With the right awareness and reframing, it may become our ally for motivation and success. Mindset Coaching partners with you to make that powerful shift.
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(Disclaimer: The above information is intended for educational purposes only. If you have chronic stress, it is advised to consult a qualified practitioner.)
About the Author
Suryapraba Selvam is the Founder of Senergie Global. She is a Certified life coach, mindset coach, and NLP Practitioner. She has done her bachelor’s in physiotherapy and has vast knowledge in medical and neuroscience.
References:
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocial/stress.html
Stanford Business School: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/mindset-matters-how-embrace-benefits-stress
American Psychological Association of Psychology: AAP Dictionary of psychology, mindset
