CAN STRESS REALLY BE AN ASSET?

The revolution around the role of beliefs in our lives might appear to be a new one, with the rise of epigenetics, cognitive neuroscience, positive psychology and mindfulness research, but the truth is this revolution began before Christ in India, China, ancient Greece and Egypt. What we are seeing now is merely a re-discovery!  An awakening on the part of science to those principles espoused by the the great teachers, scientists, scholars and philosophers of that time. If you are interested in this aspect of history see: Science: The New God? and Antiquity Comes Full Circle.

 

So in fact, what we have is ‘new’ sciences reporting on old concepts, often in the process not paying homage to those great thinkers of the past.  In this video Kelly McGonigal explores the idea that stress is only harmful if we believe it to be so and in fact, it can be a force for good when we relate to it in the right way.  Interestingly, this is also true of anger.  It can either be a destructive energy, which most of us have experienced in one way or another, however when channelled it can be an incredible force for positive change.

 

Psychologist Kelly McGonigal is a leader in the growing field of ‘science-help’. Through books, articles, courses and workshops, McGonigal works to help us understand and implement the latest scientific findings in psychology, neuroscience and medicine.  Straddling the worlds of research and practice, McGonigal holds positions in both the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the School of Medicine.

 

Her most recent book, The Willpower Instinct, explores the latest research on motivation, temptation and procrastination, as well as what it takes to transform habits, persevere at challenges and make a successful change.

 

In this interesting video, Kelly McGonigal provides evidence which adds to the plethora of new research underlining that we are what we believe about ourselves.  Buddha said this 2250 years ago, so it is about time that we caught up with the truth that our destiny truly is in our own hands.

 

Our thoughts create our beliefs, our beliefs create our patterns, our patterns create our habits, our habits drive our behaviour.  So if we seek change, we have to change the way we think.  We have to change what we say and what we do.  In this way we can change our relationship to stress and to everything else in our lives.

 

 

 


Also see: The Journey of Becoming and What is Neuroplasticity?