You may well be aware that the classic idea of stress — or at least the popular opinion of it — is that it’s restraining. However, stress can also have a positive impact- this is eustress. In today’s micro show we’re going to explore how to use stress to your advantage.
Eustress is what puts you on the spot to tackle necessary situations you would otherwise choose to keep away from. It helps you overcome inhibition, face fear, and leverage opportunities. So if you’re someone who is willing to make a move only when you feel “perfectly” ready, a little bit of internal chaos could push you to finally start doing what you want to in life.
Stress is more valuable with with consistent self-reflection. Pause, reflect, and take some time to analyze what you learned through pushing your limits- what are those raw ingredients that created your unique life experiences?
According to Dr. Robert Sapolsky, the optimal amount of stress is stimulation. And for you to get to that point requires an honest evaluation of your present. A little bit more pain might really aid in your overall growth.
In today’s episode, I get into how you can add 25% more discomfort into your life to gradually develop the ‘stress’ muscle.
Quick points to note:
- You could choose to intentionally add a little bit of stress into your life to avoid being caught off-guard in situations. This way, you’re preparing in slow steps and also steering clear of distress.
- Cultivate relationships in two different vectors — with people ahead of you and behind you in the journey.
- Cold exposure (or cold baths) are a good way of training yourself to be comfortable around the uncomfortable. It also strengthens your internal systems.
- Build up your capacity for stress in small steps.
Enjoy!
Listen to the Podcast
Subscribe
Timestamps
[00:00] Intro
[02:11] Building the stress muscle: Why the ability to operate under pressure, like many other things, is a muscle you need to build.
[03:12] Understanding the two types of stress: EUstress (the good kind of stress) and distress (the bad kind of stress)
[04:29] Befriending uncomfortable spaces: Why, sometimes, it’s good to put yourself into things, places, and experiences that are slightly uncomfortable
[06:42] Self-reflection: How it helps synthesize your experiences, thoughts, and learning from the last stage to help you level up with confidence
[08:49] Striking the right balance between adventure and reflection
[09:17] Are you honest with yourself about the level of stress you can take? (Do you think a little bit more pain could help bring about a little more growth?)
[10:08] Inviting 25% more discomfort into your life (and why it’s healthy)
[11:17] The right way to cultivate the right amount of stress (the power of intention-setting)
[12:17] Embracing a degree of chaos: How to put yourself intentionally in a controlled environment of stress for optimal performance
[13:08] The two different types of relationship that you would benefit from in life (and how they expand your perspective around your field of interest) — people ahead of you and the people behind you in the same journey
[14:53] The benefits of cold exposure (cold baths) in stress (distress) reduction
[16:46] The benefits of physical exertion sports
[17:13] Growing with stress
This podcast is brought to you by CreativeLive. CreativeLive is the world’s largest hub for online creative education in photo/video, art/design, music/audio, craft/maker, money/life and the ability to make a living in any of those disciplines. They are high quality, highly curated classes taught by the world’s top experts — Pulitzer, Oscar, Grammy Award winners, New York Times best selling authors and the best entrepreneurs of our times.
