Stress is a very real issue that most of us deal with daily, some more than others. We’re often trying to find ways to reduce the amount of pressure we’re under or find ways to handle it better. But health psychologist Kelly McGonigal has given presentations and written books about ways to think about stress differently. Her 2013 TED Talk, “How to make stress your friend,” is one of the most-viewed on their platform with over 36.4 million views. In it, she makes the case that there are ways to turn this pressure into a positive thing. And our quote of the day focuses on that idea of reframing stress.
According to TEDTalk, McGonigal is a “leader” in the “science-help” space. She “translates academic research into practical strategies for health, happiness and personal success.” She is a psychologist in both “the worlds of research and practice,” and holds positions in the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the School of Medicine, they also reported.
As she wrote on her website, her two most popular books first started out as psychology courses she was teaching at Stanford University. For example, The Willpower of Instinct was originally a course called “The Science of Willpower,” and her most recent book, Joy Is a Risk Worth Taking, was an online course called “The Science and Practice of Joy.”
On top of all that, she shared that she was the psychology consultant for The New York Times Education Initiative, and interviewed professionals like scientists and authors for Public Radio’s City Arts & Lectures. She’s also worked to develop “programs for schools that integrate psychological science into student wellness and support.”
Today’s quote really highlights her position on what causes stress and a new way to think about it, which is actually so inspiring.
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Quote of the Day by Kelly McGonigal
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“Stress happens when something you care about is at stake. It’s not a sign to run away—it’s a sign to step forward.”
This quote is from McGonigal’s 2012 book, The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It. The book’s description calls it a “controversial and groundbreaking new book that overturns long-held beliefs about stress.” It mentions that almost half of Americans lose sleep over stress, and are often trying to reduce the amount of stress they’re experiencing. However, McGonigal’s book pushes the notion that “stress isn’t bad,” backing it up with research and explanations.
It “is the first book to bring together cutting-edge discoveries on the correlation between resilience—the human capacity for stress-related growth—and mind-set, the power of beliefs to shape reality.” The book also includes exercises and stories that aim to show you how to embrace stress, how it can “provide focus and energy” and more.
Related: Friedrich Nietzsche’s Quote on Persevering Through Hard Times Still Applies Today
Deeper Meaning of Kelly McGonigal’s Quote—Reframing Stress
Whether you can fully reframe the way you think about stress or not, McGonigal’s initial statement is true. If you feel an intense emotion about a situation, then you care about it in some regard.
Because of that, stress shouldn’t be something you should be avoidant of or “run away” from, as McGonigal puts it. She states that you should embrace it and “step forward” to address the pressure you’re feeling. As with many things we care about, it’s good to face things head-on to either figure out a remedy or at least why you’re feeling stress and anxiety and not another emotion.
Stepping to the plate when it comes to something that’s stressing you out is one way to start addressing that emotion, whether that’s finding a way to make stress your friend or finding ways to alleviate it.
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More Quotes from Kelly McGonigal
- “Chasing meaning is better for your health than trying to avoid discomfort.”
- “Go after what it is that creates meaning in your life and then trust yourself to handle the stress that follows.”
- “When you choose to view your stress response as helpful, you create the biology of courage.”
- “There is a secret for greater self-control; the science points to one thing: the power of paying attention.”
- “When we’re stressed, our brains persistently mis-predict what will make us happy.”
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