3
How to Use Stress for Success
As you've heard me say time and time again, stress is neither good nor bad; it just is. What determines the impact of stress on our system is our ability to adapt to it. When we are running on empty and operating in survival mode, we become rigid and default to the automated habits that have served us for so long. You'll recall from the prior chapter why the brain considers this the best approach: Any change in habits, even positive, requires an energy investment. When there is nothing in the bank account, the brain has no option but to resort to curbing noncritical spending.
Like an old rubber band, we crack and break down when force is applied to our weakened systems because we lack flexibility. But when we have the energy to be pliable and resilient, we are able not only to bounce back from challenges but also to strengthen our system as a result of the exercise.
Therefore, successful and sustainable stress management must start with a core foundation of energy to keep the brain and body functioning in a more optimal state. This allows the brain to facilitate opportunity-based processes for focus, attention, creativity, flexibility, and endurance over time. The messages that the body's various hormones send the brain to regulate energy flow, and maintain resources like glucose and oxygen, provide the stability we need for optimal functioning.
Consider the stress management strategies in this book—rest, repair, rebuild, rethink, and redesign—as ...
