Stress has a bad reputation. And rightly so, in many cases. Too much stress, for too long, with no rest in sight, can wear us down. It can leave us exhausted, scattered, irritable, and eventually disconnected from ourselves.
But not all stress is your enemy. Or so I found out. Some stress is more like a wake up call. The pressure it creates wakes us up rather than shuts us down. That kind of stress has a name.
Eustress is the good kind of stress. Not because it feels easy, because it doesn’t, but because it feels meaningful. It shows up when we’re facing something important and we believe, even if only subconsciously, that we can handle it.
It may be having to learn something new. Starting that project you’re excited about. Preparing for an important exam. Having an uncomfortable but honest conversation. Making a change. Taking one more step toward something that matters.
It’s the stress of growth. And just like lifting weights, the muscle is challenged, then it rebuilds and becomes stronger.
Eustress can sharpens our focus. It can make us more alert. It can motivate us to keep going. It can increase our confidence when we begin to see ourselves getting through the challenge.
This is not the same as chronic stress. It’s not the endless pressure of too much work, too little support, and no time to breathe. That kind of stress can harm us over time.
But a meaningful challenge can stretch us without breaking us. It can increase our confidence. It can be good for us. A little cortisol rise from eustress is not the enemy. The body knows how to rise to the occasion.
The problem begins when we feel like we’re in survival mode. So maybe the question is not, “How do I avoid stress?” The better question is, “Is this stress helping me grow, or is it draining me dry?”
Because there is a difference. Some stress asks us to abandon ourselves. But some stress asks us to become ourselves.
So maybe this Sunday, ask yourself, “Is the challenge in front of me here to crush me? Or is it here to strengthen something I forgot I had?”
Like courage and resilience. The knowing that I can rise to the occasion without abandoning myself.