Stress is usually a concept that we associate with the negative, with an uncomfortable experience that we would like to leave behind as soon as possible to return to a state of calm. However, this is an overly simplistic view of this issue.
And if stress exists, it is for a reason. It is the product of millions of years of evolution, during which a phenomenon as important as our nervous system activation mechanisms could not have been left out of natural selection. In fact, stress exists in a large number of animals, indicating its importance for survival.
But… What is the good part of stress, exactly? We will see it throughout this article.
The positive aspects of stress: channeling energy to achieve goals
Stress is based on a series of biopsychological mechanisms that predispose us to be more activated in certain circumstances, more prepared to react as soon as possible to what is happening around us
This leads to a feeling of being “in tension”, because when we are stressed, we feel as if we cannot rest with a clear conscience until we have met a need or achieved a goal, which leads many people to assume that stress is a bad thing
But although on some specific occasions stress can become excessive, or predispose us to develop unhealthy habits (binge eating, smoking, etc.), in most cases, it has a potential that we must know how to take advantage of well. And if we manage this impulse of emotions and feelings appropriately, we will be helping us get closer to our goals.
And this is precisely the positive potential of stress; their different ways of aligning ourselves with a series of objectives that come to occupy an important space in our consciousness, which is an opportunity to be consistent with that and give them priority not only in our thinking, but also in our actions. Thus, The good part of stress can be divided into the following benefits
1. It implies a source of motivation
Stress is a constant reminder that there are a series of tasks to complete; For that reason alone, it already protects us from the “forgetting” factor. For better and for worse, stress forces us to position ourselves for the prospect of performing an action that is important to us, and that greatly increases the chances that we will end up doing it
2. It opens our minds to new possibilities
Stress causes us to think through a different perspective than the one we adopt in normal situations; It makes us more likely to try new things if that serves to respond to our need to do a certain action. Thus, helps us make “accidental” discoveries, to which we would not have been exposed in normal situations
3. Well managed, it gives us the opportunity to structure our tasks
Sequencing our actions through a pattern of tasks in which one responsibility follows the next is one of the most effective methods for managing stress, and this is something that not only serves to relieve that “tension”, but also helps us. helps you move forward efficiently and productively.
While it is true that stress can also lead us to not want to start that chain of tasks, those who have tried it know that it is a way to relieve discomfort that works, and Once we are familiar with that strategy, we are much more likely to resort to it when stress acts as a trigger again
4. Helps us detect opportunities
Stress not only serves to quickly detect danger signs; It also allows us to identify opportunities, occasions that it would hurt us to pass up because they can help us improve. Those who channel their stress well, make it act as a funnel of good luck since they do not miss the opportunity to position themselves in a favorable place in the face of life’s twists of fortune.
5. It leads us to take control
When we feel stress, our desire to take care of the responsibilities ourselves increases, instead of leaving them in the hands of others. This need for control can help us not only obtain better results, but it is also an engine for our own learning, since it exposes us to new challenges
Do you want to learn how to channel stress productively?
As we have seen, stress can be a source of motivation that leads us to leave our comfort zone and engage in tasks in a more productive way. In fact, sometimes these tasks have to do with activities that we would not normally do, so we make use of our creative potential.
However, to be able to take advantage of these latent abilities in oneself, one must get used to adopting a constructive mentality when dealing with stress, and this is something that cannot be achieved by simply reading; It is necessary to change habits and apply emotional management strategies to our daily lives.
If you are interested in developing this capacity, you will probably also be interested in the training program Stress management: channeling and projecting energy, online course developed by the European School of Coaching This is a program aimed at people with or without prior training in this area and interested in improving their ability to use the productive potential of stress: it consists of a total of 12 hours in duration divided into 4 sessions, which take place in synchronous classroom (that is, live and direct).
In the course Stress management: channeling and projecting energy, an online course developed by the European School of Coaching, taught by the psychologist and coach Patxi Rocha del Cura, content is covered such as time management techniques, resources to identify correctly manage stress and its triggers, develop skills to channel it, face-to-face conversational skills, and more.
To see more information about the European Coaching School and the in-person or online courses it offers, access this page.