I Stress, Eustress?

"Stress" is a frequent topic of conversation and of much concern in psychology.  Hans Selye, an Austrian endocrinologist who coined the term, originally discussed two terms: distress and eustress.  Distress causes harm, disease, and depression.  Eustress, which literally means "good stress," is stress that causes growth, a feeling of fulfillment, and happiness.

What is interesting, and misleading, is that there is no external difference between "eustress" and "distress".  The difference lies in the attitude a person takes towards "environmental stressors."

Most of our conversations about stress revolve around how to cope with it.  

Shouldn't we be talking about how to turn it into eustress? And what is this magical attitude that turns distress into eustress?  Here the science is a bit unclear; many of the recommendations seemed to be ripped from self-help bestsellers.  "Viewing problems as fun challenges rather than threats." Or, "Being proactive." 

The theme of many of these self-help bestsellers is leadership.  Is an attitude of leadership the "secret sauce" to making stress an enriching, happiness-inducing part of your life?

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