How to Make Stress Good for You: Part 3

In this podcast (#462) and blog, I talk about how to develop a healthy stress mindset. This is part 3 of my series on stress. You can listen to part 1 here and part 2 here.

As I mentioned in part 1, chronic, unmanaged stress is directly linked to physical ill-health and mental health challenges. In fact, if we are constantly stressed about stress, it will become an obstacle on our pathway to dealing with life’s challenges.  

But, if stress is an inevitable part of life, is there a solution to this problem? Is there hope? Thankfully, there is! As I discussed in part 2, the key lies in how we choose to manage our stress. Changing our attitude towards stress is essential to healthy mental and physical self-care. You can choose how you view stress by practicing a healthy stress mindset. And one of the best ways to do this is to see stress as something that enhances rather than diminishes your performance. 

And one of the best ways to truly change the way you view stress and how it impacts your mental and physical health is through mind management and self-regulation, or taking the time to look at your thoughts and how they are affecting you. And a great way to do this is using the Neurocycle mind management method, which I discuss in detail in my latest book Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess and my app Neurocycle.

The Neurocycle is a way to harness your thinking power that I have developed and researched over the past three decades. It has 5 steps: 

1) Gather awareness of how you feel mentally and physically when you experience stress. Are you frustrated? Fearful? Angry? Sick to your stomach?

2) Reflect on how you feel. Why do you think you feel this way? What is happening in your brain and body as you respond to stress in this way? 

3) Write down your reflections to help organize your thinking. 

4) Recheck: think about what your thoughts and feelings are trying to tell you. What does it say about how you view stress? Can you change this to make stress work for you and not against you? Look for clues in your writing, then start to reconceptualize the way you are thinking. How can you start seeing stress differently? 

5) Do your active reach. This is a thought or action you need to practice daily to help you reconceptualize what you thought about in the previous step – that is, practice seeing stress differently to change the way it affects your wellbeing. This step is all about making stress work for you and not against you. Some great ways to do this are: 

• Setting a mantra or theme for the day, which could be as simple as a phrase such as “good stress helps me get things done”, which you repeat to yourself several times a day, especially when you are feeling overwhelmed.
• Practicing seeing the situation you are facing as something you can handle versus something you can’t handle. How have you handled other challenges in the past? Think of how you overcame these struggles. Remind yourself that you are that same person. Think of how your brain and body are preparing you to take action and do what needs to be done (listen to part 2 of this podcast series for more on this).
• Reminding yourself of times you overcame challenges in the past. You are not powerless! It may help to keep a list of these times that you can look at when you are feeling overwhelmed.
• Speaking with friends or family to help you get perspective when you feel yourself teetering on the brink of toxic stress. Therapists or other mental health professionals are great too! Remember, asking for help takes courage! It is not “weak”. Asking for help or for someone to hear what we are going through is one of the most human things we can do, and it can be incredibly helpful. 

However, as I mentioned in part 2, remember that it takes time to change a mental habit! In fact, it takes around 63 days to do so—your perception of stress will not change overnight. Be patient, and remind yourself how incredible your mind, brain and body are. There will still be times when you fall into toxic stress, and that is totally okay. It is never too late to change your mind and start healing your mind, brain and body.

For more on developing a healthy stress mindset, listen to my podcast (episode #462). If you enjoy listening to my podcast, please consider leaving a 5-star review and subscribing. And keep sharing episodes with friends and family and on social media. (Don’t forget to tag me so I can see your posts!).    

You can now also join me on Patreon for exclusive, ad-free content! Sign up for a membership level that suits you, and receive access to ad-free exclusive bonus podcasts!        

My latest ad-free podcasts on Patreon include: 

Podcast 460: How to make stress good for you Part 2

Podcast 459: How to break dysfunctional family patterns and heal generational trauma

Podcast 458: How to make stress good for you Part 1   

This podcast is sponsored by:

ButcherBox. With so many food choices out there, it can be hard to find good quality meals that nourish the mind, brain and body. This is why I love ButcherBox! They take the guesswork out of finding top-quality meat and seafood you can trust with 100% grass-fed beef, organic chicken, pork raised crate-free, and wild-caught seafood. All of their products are humanely raised; with no antibiotics or added hormones.With ButcherBox, I love that I get just what I want delivered right to my doorstep with FREE SHIPPING in the continental U.S. and no surprise fees! I get to choose from a variety of box plan options, from curated to customized, and I can change my plan whenever I want. Get free Chicken Nuggets for a Year and 10% off your first box when you sign up today at butcherbox.com/DRLEAF and use code DRLEAF.

ZocDoc. Finding and booking a doctor who’s right for you doesn’t need to be a terrible experience. Will they take your insurance, understand your mental and physical needs, or be available when you can see them? With Zocdoc, the answer can be a refreshingly stress-free: YES. Zocdoc is a FREE app that shows you doctors who are patient-reviewed, take your insurance and are available when you need them. Every month, millions of people use Zocdoc. And I’m one of them. It’s my go-to whenever I need to find and book a doctor. I have used the app to book doctor’s appointments, dental checkups—you name it! It has been so great, especially when I visit a new town or city and I need to find an appointment. Go to Zocdoc.com/LEAF and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Then start your search for a top-rated doctor today. Many are available within 24 hours!  

Podcast Highlights 

3:10 How we respond to life changes the mind, brain & body 

4:00 Normal vs. toxic stress 

10:01 Using mind management to change the way you see stress 

21:00, 24:07 Examples & tips to make healthy stress work for you