Wednesday, February 21, 2018

The Upside of Stress

The Upside of Stress: Why Stress is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It
By Kelly McGonigal Avery, 2015. 279 pages. Nonfiction

If you’ve ever complained about being stressed, then you need to read this book. We all experience stress, and we’ve been indoctrinated that it is destructive to our health. Most of us do everything we can to reduce or avoid stress. But Stanford psychologist Kelly McGonigal, PhD, using cutting-edge research and examples, teaches us that stress isn’t all bad. This new research reveals that if we can learn how to embrace it and accept it in our lives, stress can, in fact, make us stronger, smarter, and more fulfilled.

I picked up this book after watching McGonigal’s TED Talk on the same topic. I was intrigued but a bit skeptical about how to embrace stress in my life. I’m pleased to report that this is a fascinating book as well as an empowering guide teaching us how to cultivate a mind-set that embraces stress, why stress can help us be more focused, and how stress even helps us connect with the people around us and strengthens our relationships. It has shaped the way I now think about stress. I would highly recommend you read it.

AJ

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