Remember months ago, I posted about looking at various TEDTalks and highlighting what can be learned from them? Yeah, I hadn’t exactly gotten around to that and there is a reason. The same day I made that post, I was invited to apply for my own TEDTalk. Talk about manifesting magic! So I have been busy analyzing them for whole different reasons. That doesn’t mean that I haven’t been watching them though.

Welp, fast forward months later and I am in countdown to when my TEDTalk is happening. Yes, it was accepted. Let’s just say I am a bit stressed. So this talk from psychologist Kelly McGonigal seemed to be timed appropriate. Can we make stress our friend? Is it actually good for us? Take a look at the video below:

Kelly McGonigal’s talk challenges the conventional view of stress as harmful, advocating for a transformative perspective shift. She points out that she previously promoted the idea that stress is detrimental, but a revealing study indicating that the belief in stress as harmful increases the risk of death changed her mind. The study found that this belief contributes to 20,000 deaths annually in the U.S. She suggests that altering our mindset about stress can positively impact our body’s response. Embracing stress as helpful leads to physical benefits, including a healthier cardiovascular response. Oxytocin, released during stress, is portrayed as a stress resilience mechanism, promoting social bonding and protecting the cardiovascular system. McGonigal emphasizes the power of helping others and advocates for choosing meaning over avoidance in handling stress. In conclusion, she underscores the potential for growth, resilience, and improved health by viewing stress as a natural response and highlights the importance of connecting with others and seeking meaning in life.

If this fascinates you as much as it does me, you can find out more in her book The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It. Click here to add it to your Amazon cart!

Oh, and before I forget, if you happen to be in the Southern Maryland area at the end of February and want to hear me talk about creativity resistance, check out the site for the TEDxGreat Mills!