Did you know Stress can be a good thing?
My whole life and in every doctors appointment, I was always told that I needed to figure out how to decrease my stress levels. Haha! Very funny, I would think that is ONE THING I don't feel like I can control in my life, let alone even know how to decrease my stress. I am a part of the "pull yourself up by your bootstraps and suck it up buttercup" generation, we weren't taught about stress. Doctors alone stressed me out, the fact that I felt horrible all the time and then they basically tell me that my issues are all my fault sucked hard. That alone caused stress!!!
(Turns out years later, I found a better physician who actually listened to me. She ran tests and found out it wasn't the "psychological stress" I had been told for years I was suffering from , but a virus I had been battling.)
So yeah, if you ever wanted to throat punch a doctor because you didn't get answers and were told it's all in your head, I can relate!
What I have since learned is that stress comes in all forms, shapes, and sizes. Some of it is out of our control and some of it is. Stress can be bad and cause serious health issues, but it can also be good and help us thrive in life.
Confused yet?
Truth is stress can be very complicated, but you can use it to your advantage! For example, working out/ exercise is a form of intentional stress you put on your body. This temporary discomfort of pushing your body to do new things will strengthen your health physically and mentally. Other forms of intentional stress that have potential to help you are fasting, cold plunges, or sweating it out in a sauna. Being bored is an excellent example of a stressor today that has beautiful benefits on brain health.
The key is to know when and how stress can be used for your personal advantage. It works very differently between men and women, so ladies don't compare yourself to the men in your lives! Even working out there is fine line between beneficial stress and going too far.
This good type of stress actually has a name too! It's called Hormesis, being intentional about the right amount of good stress in your life can actually help balance your stress hormones and reduce inflammation in your body!
So it's not all bad! And learning how to use good stressors to your advantage is a key to health and longevity.
****This is a picture of me walking my dog Lukas, if you zoom in on my face you will see I am not happy go lucky or relaxed. I am stressed. Haha!
First, I don't like having my picture taken. Second, my dog is a butthead. We have to find secluded places to walk because he is not friendly to others and refuses to walk in a straight line! So, I am always having to keep on my toes and just let him run circles around me. He probably runs 4 miles to my 1 mile!
But this is my hormesis, I am moving my body, pushing myself and I always feel better afterwards! I have learned I can go up to 4 miles, but I have learned much more than that and I will suffer the consequences of inflammation and pain. Learning to listen to my body and honor it's threshold is sacred, holy and a constant daily rhythm that has led to healing and moving from a place of survival to thriving!
If you want help figuring out how to reduce the bad stress, balance your nervous system or include some hormesis in your life, we are here for you!
