STRESS - HOW YOUR MINDSET MATTERS
Traditionally, stress has been commonly thought to be believed as something that is debilitating and negative for our health.
Yet at the same time, anyone that is reading this would know that there will always be a level of stress in our lives
I’m sure that we can all agree that stress can not be completely avoided.
It is also not always practical to engage in stress-reducing activities such as meditation during a busy day.
So with all of that in mind, I want to share how our mindset of stress influences the outcome.
Take a moment to think about how you would feel in this scenario: Standing at the top of a double diamond ski run.
You could either be terrified if you have never done it before or if you are experienced you could be excited and thrilled at the thought
Both reactions are interpreted in our bodies as a fight-or-flight response through our sympathetic nervous system, which is designed for action.
There is growing evidence to suggest that when we are in fight-or-flight mode, the view we have about the stress we are experiencing can result in either negative consequences or positive outcomes.
‘The Milkshake Study’ is a famous study which looked at two groups of people exploring their beliefs about the food they are consuming. One group was told they were consuming a high-calorie indulgent shake and the other was told they were consuming a low-calorie sensible shake. The shake used in both groups was in fact the same 300 calorie milkshake.
The study found that Ghrelin (the hunger hormone) dropped significantly in the first group (high-calorie shake) when compared to the second group (low-calorie shake). The results showed that what the participants believed about what they were consuming in the milkshake had a genuine physiological effect on their bodies.
These same principles apply when we look at what we believe about stress.
Is the stress debilitating or going to kill us?
Or, is it our body’s natural way of enhancing our focus, cognitive speed and preparing us for the situation that is in front of us?
By simply changing our mindset from stress as a negative to stress as a positive, we can appropriately and calmly navigate the turbulence that comes with life.
It is important to note that switching the mindset is NOT about embracing all negative news. Being in a state of stress will be our body’s best way of navigating difficult circumstances.
If you would like to learn more, here are some additional resources:
References
Dr. Alia Crum: Science of Mindsets for Health & Performance - Huberman Lab
How to make stress your friend - Kelly McGonigal | TED
Stress Toolkit - Stanford University