09/05/2026
What if stress isn’t always working against you?
What if, sometimes, it is your body preparing you to rise to the challenge in front of you?
Think about exercise. When we work out, we intentionally place stress on the body. We challenge our muscles, heart, lungs, balance, and endurance—not to break ourselves down, but to give the body a reason to adapt and become stronger.
But here’s the key: growth requires both challenge and recovery.
Life can work similarly. Stress may cause your heart to beat faster, your breathing to quicken, and your energy to rise. We often interpret those feelings as, “I can’t handle this.” But what if your body is actually saying, “I’m preparing you for this”?
That doesn’t mean all stress is good or that we should ignore chronic stress, trauma, or exhaustion. It means we may not have to fear every stress response we experience.
This week, I’m challenging you to stop asking, “Why is this happening to me?” and consider asking:
“How could this be preparing me?”
Watch Kelly McGonigal’s TED Talk, “How to Make Stress Your Friend,” and let me know what stands out to you:
https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend
Challenge. Recover. Adapt. Become stronger.
—Coach Jacki
Stress. It makes your heart pound, your breathing quicken and your forehead sweat. But while stress has been made into a public health enemy, new research suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case. Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positiv...