Eustress - The Pleasant or Positive Stress
Posted on 2 October 2008
I am sure we have all experienced the great feeling that we get after achieving something great, like accomplishing a task, achieving a goal or doing something kind for someone else. This is what is called Eustress (Good Stress) and its the stress that gives us a lust for life.
Eustress
What got me thinking about this was that all the times I have felt best or the most satisfied have stemmed from a time where I worked hard to achieve something and it put a stress on my body but not a negative stress like Anxiety, Fear, Guilt which are called Distress. It was more of a in the moment enjoyable stress which got me out of my head and had me totally focused on the job in the hand.
Its so important for human’s to find a form of Eustress and learn to maintain it, otherwise we can be dragged into the dark world of Distress which is riddled with Anxiety, Confusion, and Greed….
Balancing Stress
Balancing stress is an odd thing; we need a certain amount of stress in order to feel good. Too little stress will leave us under-stimulated, bored and even depressed. Whereas too much stress (distress) will do the opposite overstimulating us to the point of madness. We must learn to achieve the middle point (Eustress) so we have a purpose and excitement to life which allow us to function optimally, creating a good hormonal environment which is conductive to feeling good.
How To Achieve Eustress
Achieving an optimal level of stress is not easy. I have found we need the following:
- A Purpose to Life. Something to get up for each day whether thats a job you enjoy, or anything that gets you passionate about living. If yu haven’t found that thing it will come it just takes time and effort. Here is a great post about revealing your purpose in life……
- Supportive Friends and Family. Having good people around you is something so important! Friends and family we can talk to in times of need is crucial. They give us a solid base and keep us grounded.
- A Base. Having a home, a bed, good food. These things are not only key to living they are key to keeping mental sanity so if you don’t have these they are your core to build life upon.
- Challenges. Having something to work towards is a great way to achieve Eustress. A goal will fuel your will to love and enthusiasm for life. Look into learning new sports, reading consistently or taking a course in something. Doing any of these things will effectively create some form of Eustress in your body. So take something on which will force you to learn something new or hone your current thinking.
- Start a Blog
- Sign up for a Event (5k, Triathlon, Charity Run)
- Do Charity work
- Learn a new skill (Language, Yoga, Sport)
- Learn to Quit Distress. Getting rid of negative stress is hard but you can let go and move on from the things that bother you. Remember you are in control and the things you worry about will most liekly never happen! Mark’s Daily Apple have a great post on de-stressing……
Its a Great Thing
Eustress the forgotten stress - Is the stuff of personal growth and development. You can’t get better, stronger, smarter, faster or more loving without it. Eustress is any stress you subject yourself to which causes positive adaptations.
Comment by panchitah
2 October 2008
I had never thought of stress in the negative vs positive sense before. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. In reading, I came to the realization that my feelings lately are tied to the need for positive stress.
I recently completed a higher education degree. I was relieved at the time to have a chance to take a vacation from the stressors that I had experienced constantly for several years. Well, here I am months later and what I feel instead is heaviness, fatigue, lack of motivation, etc. I am missing eustress!
I’m not sure how to go about finding stress balance but I feel empowered in knowing what I am lacking. Thank you once again and wish me luck!
Comment by Chris
2 October 2008
@ panchitah: I can totally relate once I finished studying and was in between keeping busy I dug myself into a very bad place; no excitement for life, feeling lethargic and being grumpy and moody. It had nothing to do with my diet and training which were spot n at the time but rather with the lack of Eustress….
Find a purpose and you will be fine, honestly the best advice I can give is it get out of home and go do stuff, keep bust, speak to people… For me it was as simple as getting out of the house and living, whatever the circumstances Just Keep Living!
Comment by Dan
2 October 2008
Excellent post! I was first turned on to the whole idea of good vs. bad stress by an amazing triathlete, Brendan Brazier. In fact, he wrote two books focusing on eliminating the negative stress. His main focus is on diet, since he claims that 40% of distress amongst Americans is from what they eat, but he does expand upon the other factors as well such as job and thoughts. Great read if you have not checked it out yet!
Personally, I have developed a morning routine that gets me fired up for the day that involves coffee, reading/writing, and exercise. Life doesn’t get much better
Comment by Chris
3 October 2008
@ Dan: Thats awesome, your morning routine sounds much like mine, And although some days I get up with more zest than others I always do what has to be done and that gets me going for the day….I will look into the work of Brendan Brazier, thanks for the recommendation!!
Comment by Tim Rosanelli
28 October 2008
I guess eustress is all about finding balance between too much stress and too little.
Tim Rosanelli
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