INVITE STRESS
Edition 4
Stress Is Neither Good Nor Bad
It Is What You Do With It That Matters
One of the first things students learn about stress is that there are two kinds of stress.
One is called eustress, or "good stress."
The other is called distress, or "bad stress."
For many years, this distinction has been widely accepted.
But after studying stress for more than three decades, I have gradually begun to question whether this is the most useful way to understand stress.
I would like to propose a different perspective.
Perhaps stress itself is neither good nor bad.
Perhaps stress is simply the body's way of preparing us for action.
Whether the outcome is good or bad depends not on the stress itself, but on what we do after stress has been activated.
Think About Electricity
Electricity can illuminate a hospital.
It can also start a fire.
Electricity can operate life-saving equipment.
It can also electrocute a person.
Is electricity good?
Is electricity bad?
Neither.
Electricity is energy.
The outcome depends on how it is generated, directed, and used.
I believe stress deserves to be viewed in much the same way.
Stress is psychological energy.
The outcome depends on what we do with that energy.
The Examination
Consider two students preparing for the same examination.
Both experience stress.
The first student thinks,
"I have enough time if I begin today."
The extra energy created by stress is used for planning, studying, and practising.
The examination becomes an opportunity for growth.
The second student also experiences stress.
Instead of studying, the student worries continuously.
"I am going to fail."
"I'll never finish."
The stress remains.
But the energy is never directed towards productive action.
The same stress now contributes to poor performance.
Was the first student's stress "good" and the second student's stress "bad"?
Or was the stress the same, while the use of that stress differed?
The Parent
A parent discovers that a young child has wandered away in a crowded shopping centre.
Stress immediately increases.
Attention sharpens.
The parent begins searching.
Within minutes, the child is found.
In this case, stress served a vital purpose.
Now imagine a different parent who becomes so overwhelmed by panic that they freeze, unable to think clearly or ask for help.
The same stress has produced a different outcome.
The difference lies not in the stress itself, but in how it was managed.
Winning Can Also Be Stressful
Suppose you receive the promotion you have been hoping for.
Most people would describe this as a positive event.
Yet what follows?
Greater responsibility.
Longer working hours.
Higher expectations.
More difficult decisions.
The promotion increases stress.
Whether it becomes beneficial or harmful depends on how you adapt to your new role.
The event is positive.
The stress is real.
The outcome remains uncertain.
Failure Can Produce Growth
Now consider the opposite situation.
A young entrepreneur loses money in a failed business.
The experience is painful.
Stress increases dramatically.
At first glance, we might call this "bad stress."
But what happens next?
The individual analyses mistakes.
Learns financial discipline.
Develops better planning skills.
Builds a stronger business a few years later.
The stressful experience ultimately contributes to success.
Was it really "bad stress"?
Or was it stress that became valuable because it led to learning?
Stress Does Not Decide
One of the most important conclusions from my work is this:
Stress does not decide the outcome.
People do.
Stress prepares us for action.
Thoughts determine the direction.
Decisions determine the response.
Actions determine the result.
The Missing Question
Whenever people describe themselves as stressed, they usually ask,
"How do I reduce this stress?"
I prefer a different question.
"Where is this stress trying to take me?"
Is it asking me to:
prepare?
learn?
decide?
protect?
communicate?
adapt?
solve?
Stress is often asking for movement.
Not paralysis.
The Hidden Danger
The real danger is not stress.
The real danger is allowing stress to remain unused.
Imagine pressing the accelerator of a parked car while keeping your foot firmly on the brake.
The engine works harder.
Fuel is consumed.
The car remains stationary.
Something similar happens in our minds.
Stress produces energy.
But if that energy is never directed towards meaningful action, it accumulates as frustration, anxiety, helplessness, or exhaustion.
Stress was preparing us to move.
We remained still.
A Different Perspective on Eustress and Distress
Perhaps we have focused on the wrong distinction.
Instead of asking whether stress is good or bad, perhaps we should ask:
What did the individual do after stress was activated?
Did the stress lead to:
learning?
preparation?
courage?
problem-solving?
adaptation?
Or did it lead to:
avoidance?
indecision?
endless worry?
helplessness?
inaction?
The same physiological response can contribute to very different outcomes.
The crucial factor is not the label we give the stress.
The crucial factor is the direction we give the energy.
The INVITE STRESS Principle
This is why I chose the title of this newsletter.
Not because I believe people should seek unnecessary stress.
Quite the opposite.
I believe we should stop attracting unnecessary stress.
At the same time, we should not fear the stress that accompanies meaningful goals.
Learning brings stress.
Leadership brings stress.
Parenting brings stress.
Innovation brings stress.
Responsibility brings stress.
These are not burdens to avoid.
They are invitations to grow.
Final Thought
Perhaps it is time to stop asking whether stress is good or bad.
A more useful question may be:
"What am I going to do with the energy that stress has just given me?"
That single question changes everything.
It shifts our attention away from labels and towards responsibility.
Stress prepares us.
Thoughts direct us.
Decisions commit us.
Actions transform us.
The quality of our lives depends less on the amount of stress we experience than on the way we choose to use it.
Until next time,
Dr. Sujendra Prakash
INVITE STRESS – A New Perspective on Stress, Burnout, and Human Capability
"Stress is not good. Stress is not bad. Stress is an invitation. What matters is whether you accept it wisely."
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