Stress: Friend or Foe?

Stress: It’s everybody’s favorite five-letter word, isn’t it?

We all talk about it:

“I’m so stressed out.”
“I’m overwhelmed.”
“I’m fried.”

And the consequences? Real.

Tears. Irritability. Burnout. Ghosting our friends. Snapping at cashiers. Harming relationships. Jeopardizing our health mentally, emotionally, and physically.

But what if… stress isn’t the enemy?

A Shift in Perspective

At my last therapy appointment, we explored a resource called Understanding Your Stress. It included exercises on life stress scales, ways to reduce and redirect situational stress, and a toolkit of activities to counteract it.

My therapist also recommended a powerful TED Talk: How to Make Stress Your Friend by Kelly McGonigal. The gist?

It’s not stress itself that harms your health.
It’s your belief about stress.

“When you change your mind about stress, you can change your body’s response to stress.” —Kelly McGonigal

Typical stress responses like a pounding heart, faster breathing, and sweating—what if they weren’t signs that you’re falling apart, but signs that your body is rising to meet a challenge?

What if your body is energizing you, fueling you, preparing you?

This resonated deeply with me. It aligns with what I’ve come to believe about health, nutrition, hormones, and the miraculous wisdom of the body. When we support the body with the right tools—whether food, breath, movement, or mindset—it responds.

Recognizing Stress and Reclaiming Power

Sometimes, all we need is a break. I wrote about that recently in Take a Break. Before You Need One. Maybe it’s a vacation. Maybe it’s a day off. Or maybe, it’s a mindset shift.

Other times, we need someone to come alongside us to hold space, to lend a hand, to lighten the load.

Maybe we need to step outside. Take a walk. Change your environment. Breathe.

Or we may need to reframe entirely.
Forget the past (that’s where depression often lingers).
Stop stressing about the future (anxiety lives there).
Focus on the present. This moment. Right now (this is where our power lies).

Let stress be a signal. A guidepost. A messenger, not a menace.

You Will Come Through This

Whatever you’re facing right now, know this:
You will come out stronger.
You will become more resilient, brave, soft, and compassionate.
And you’ll be better equipped to help others when they face adversity, too.

Tools to Reduce Stress in the Moment

Here are a few tools I’ve been considering and practicing—borrow what resonates:

🌀 Mind/Body Practices

• Deep breathing
• Meditation or visualization
• Quiet music, yoga, sleep
• Journaling
• Spiritual practice
• Massage or acupuncture
• Play, laughter, hobbies

🥗 Physical Support

• Good nutrition
• Exercise
• Rest
• Hormone balancing
• Time with pets

💛 Connection & Boundaries

• Meaningful conversation
• Meals with friends/family
• Delegate
• Set realistic to-do lists and schedules
• Say “no” to what’s not in alignment

Make it Personal

Here are a few prompts to help you identify and shift your own stressors:

I am overscheduled.
To change this, I can…

My home is chaotic.
To change this, I can…

My relationship feels strained.
To change this, I can…

My job feels unbearable.
To change this, I can…

Your Turn

What’s your go-to strategy for relieving stress?
Is there a perspective shift that’s helped you lately?
I’d love to hear from you—let’s support each other on this wild, human ride.

©2025 Lori Ann King