What is good stress?
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"Good stress" is often referred to as stress that benefits you by challenging and motivating you to achieve your goals. describes good stress as being connected to your purpose and leading to personal growth and accomplishments, such as learning something new or taking on a challenging project. This type of stress is manageable, goal-oriented, and contributes positively to your life. In contrast, "bad stress" is stress that feels imposed, overwhelming, and unrelated to your goals, often leading to negative outcomes 1.
discusses good stress as a concept of using stress deliberately, like exercising or practicing fasting, to mimic natural challenges faced by our ancestors. This deliberate imposition of stress can help bring balance to a modern lifestyle filled with conveniences, helping us leverage our evolutionary strengths for better health and resilience 2.
Both and argue against categorizing stress strictly as good or bad, emphasizing instead understanding our responses to stress. They suggest focusing on whether our reactions help us manage situations or meet challenges effectively, rather than labeling the stress itself as positive or negative 3.
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