5 Ways to Change the Way You Think About Stress

won’t be able to handle it, think about why it matters to you.

Even if your neighbor’s kid struggled in school or your coworker had trouble communicating with her parents, you probably wouldn’t worry too much about them. Worrying should indicate that the issue is important to you and warrants your undivided attention.

Skill #4: Learn To Handle Uncertainty

It’s crucial to recognize that circumstances outside your control may restrict your capacity to take action toward the cause of stress. Otherwise, you waste your time and energy trying to influence things outside of your control, like the actions of other people or the course of nature.

This might cause you to get mired in anxious striving, leaving you feeling miserable if you don’t succeed and overconfident if you do. You may learn to tolerate the pain of uncertainty while maintaining an optimistic outlook via mindfulness exercises like self-compassion meditation and body scans.

Seeing your need for control as a burden you must carry uphill is another great metaphor for letting go. Let go and give in to the intrigue of the unknown.

Skill #5: Build Your Inner & Outer Resources

Given that we’re hardwired for bouts of short-term stress followed by longer bouts of recovery, it’s no surprise that stress may negatively affect our mental and physical health. That’s almost impossible in today’s demanding climate; therefore, we must fortify our inner and exterior resources to weather the storm.

Take care of your sleeping, eating, and moving about. Take part in productive activity. And try to connect with people, not only to receive aid.

According to Stanford psychologist Kelly McGonigal’s book The Upside of Stress, the “tend and befriend” reaction (as opposed to the “flight or fight” response) is triggered by connection, and this gives us the strength to persevere in the face of adversity.

Instead of wishing your tension away as you lie awake at night, try taking a deep breath and being present. Afterward, you may address the issue head-on or drop it like it’s hot.