There has been a trend over the last decade moving away from stress. Stress is bad and we should therefor avoid anything that is stressful.
This is a bit of a false dichotomy, stress CAN be bad but stress can also be very beneficial.
Stress cycles and inflammation have been linked to almost every disease going, from Alzheimer’s to cardiovascular disease. But we also use stress to enhance our lives; exercise is a form of stress. We place our bodies in an uncomfortable environment in order for it to respond and recover in a healthy fashion.
Going on a first date or taking a promotion are also examples of times we put ourselves in deliberate discomfort for our own betterment.
The crucial difference is duration; short-term stressors can be highly beneficial. Long term repeated and unabated stress is what increases inflammation markers in the body and leads to cellular degeneration and disease.
With all this in mind I return to my first comment. The trend in the wellness industry to escape from all forms of stress is misleading. We need stress, diamonds are formed in a pressurised environment and we in turn also thrive under pressure.
I would advocate we seek it out. I heard (well renowned Psychologist) Jordan Peterson recently say he thought we should use our twenties to push the limits of our capabilities. Pile on the pressure and see where we break. Then scale back accordingly.
In a way we all did this but he meant in a much more deliberate fashion; to seek discomfort in order to find your boundaries and reach new thresholds.
Move cities, take the new job, ice baths, exercise, saunas, public speaking; these are all examples of ways we can step outside our comfort zones and maximise our potential. Start today.
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