thanks jess

Hello everyone! Today’s we are discussing everyone’s favorite topic: stress. 😀

Here’s the thing about stress. It doesn’t have to be something that hinders you. Stress can come in many different forms, by transitioning our reactions and emotions during stress we can overcome it, and better yet live with it.

The Good Stress and the Bad Stress

Did you notice I capitalized Good Stress and Bad Stress? That’s because I want you to picture in your head two beings. The Bad Stress and the Good Stress.

Now, Good Stress is the golden child, he’s the kid that even though you feel some stress around, it’s the good kind (think of adrenaline activities or things like exercise, playing a video game, etc). Good Stress tells us, “Hey I’m stressed and yet, I kinda like it!” Most of us thrive with Good Stress.

Now for Bad Stress, the black sheep of the family, he’s the kid you don’t necessarily like being around. Sometimes you even do your best to avoid him. You might even go so far to cope in destructive ways just to deal with Bad Stress.

Bad Stress just wants to be acknowledged

Good Stress and Bad Stress will always be there. It’s not right to continue to avoid Bad Stress especially when it’s compounded with terrible choices to deal with it (or him). Bad Stress will only ask that you acknowledge it.

When you’re tied up with things at work, when a driver cuts you off, when a friend cancels plans, when someone tells you no, all these things just need to be acknowledged. I’m stressed because ________.

Now here’s where things get interesting. You can choose what you do with those feelings. You can choose how to work with Bad Stress.

Living with stress

Listen, we all deal with both forms of stress every day. It does no good to the human body or to the human mind to punish yourself just because Bad Stress decided to visit.

Like any other gracious host, you just pull up a chair and live with it. It’s only temporary after all. Work will be over by 5 p.m. That driver is a complete stranger you’ll forget in a minute. You can always reschedule plans with that friend, and no means no.

This isn’t to say that your grievances don’t matter, it’s just that it’s no use stressing over them. Transition the emotions you felt with Good Stress over to Bad Stress, work with it, not against it.

I hope this article was enlightening for you guys! 🙂 I have so much to say about working with stress so this entry was a little longer than usual. What are your thoughts about dealing with stress? Comment down below!