The Upside of Stress (Kelly McGonigal)

 

This is a great book! It is definitely one to read again and read it regularly.

NOTES

- People who thrive under stress have a different sort of hardiness (courage to grow from stress):

    - they think about stress differently. They see it as a normal aspect of life
    - they see it as an opportunity to grow
    - they believed that difficult times require staying engaged with life rather than giving up or isolating oneself
    - no matter what happens, you can continue to make choices and change the situation

People who are good at stress allow themselves to be changed by the experience of stress. They find ways to make meaning out of suffering.

The book is divided into three important ways to deal with stress:

Engage
Connect
Grow

p. 102: Mindset interventions don't just stick; they also snowball. Every time these students perform well despite - or perhaps because of - their nerves, they learn to trust themselves under pressure. 

p. 103 Do you see stress as helpful and giving you motivation? Or do you see it as harmful?

    "If you experience stress of anxiety, try to channel or use the energy those feelings may arouse in order to do your best" and "You are the kind of person who performs better under pressure."  
vs 
 "If you experience stress or anxiety, try to focus on the task and do your best."
vs 
 " Please try to do your best."

Students who learn to channel and use the energy stress arouses outperform others.