Monday, August 8, 2016

How We Think About Stress Matters

What Doesn't Kill Us Makes Us Stronger

I've never been a fan of stress management programs in the workplace. For a long time, I've believed that stress comes from how we respond to events at work, not the actually events themselves. Instead of managing stress, I've tried to focus on helping people build resilience so that we can better withstand the stressful events when they occur. 

Recently, I read an article in the Economist that expanded my thinking. It suggests that stress makes us stronger in the same way weight baring exercise makes our bones stronger. How we think about stress matters. And, knowing this gives us a few more ounces of control.