“Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.” Hans Selye
It has been said that those who can’t do, teach. As a matter of principle, I disagree with this statement with one personal exception. People who know me well can’t believe that I teach stress management- but I do. And when I conduct a stress management class, my focus is to help the participants become conscious of the stress they have in their lives so that they can make choices to reduce their stress.
Over the years, I’ve campaigned against stress because, as everyone knows, stress is bad for us, and too much stress can affect our health, our relationships, and our very lives.
Well, apparently, I’m wrong. It is not the stress in our lives that is so damaging, but rather our attitude toward stress. If we believe stress is bad, that belief has adverse consequences. However, if we take the attitude that stress makes us stronger, it actually does.
Not only that, stress generates oxytocin, which keeps our blood vessels open to help us handle the stress and avoid heart attacks or strokes. In addition, oxytocin creates feelings of calm and closeness, according to Carol Rinkleib Ellison. It encourages us to seek out others for support, which produces more oxytocin, helping us handle our stress. https://www.livescience.com/35219-11-effects-of-oxytocin.html
The best thing I can do for you today is refer you to a TED talk by Kelly McGonigal. It will be 14 minutes that may save your life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcGyVTAoXEU
May your learning be sweet.
Deborah
