{"id":206617,"date":"2019-12-18T15:15:38","date_gmt":"2019-12-18T15:15:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/strengthbasedliving.com\/?p=206617"},"modified":"2021-05-05T16:45:02","modified_gmt":"2021-05-05T16:45:02","slug":"boost-your-stress-resilience-during-the-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthening-the-holidays\/boost-your-stress-resilience-during-the-holidays\/","title":{"rendered":"Boost Your Stress Resilience During the Holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you\u2019re celebrating Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, or the new year, this can be a time of both joy and sorrow, endings and beginnings. And stress. \u00a0Even if you\u2019re in a good place in your life, there\u2019s bound to be stress. You might need to navigate bad weather, difficult relationships, or juggling too much to do at work and home. When besieged by stress during the holidays, or any time of year, there are things you can do to boost your stress resilience. <\/em>Your character strengths can help.<\/p>\n

What is Stress Resilience?<\/h3>\n
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The symptoms of life\u2019s daily stressors \u2013 a racing heart, shortness of breath, difficulty concentrating \u2013 can trigger anxiety or fear. Most of us think of stress as the enemy because we\u2019re afraid of its harmful effects on our bodies and minds. But studies have shown that we have everything we need to benefit from stress and in fact become stress resilient.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not talking about long-term stress due to traumatic experiences. Chronic stress can increase the risk of illness, depression, and even death. If you\u2019re suffering from chronic stress, know that this article is only a starting point and isn\u2019t meant to replace other helpful options, like seeking professional help.<\/p>\n

Resilience is about responding to adversity in healthful ways. Not everyone who encounters adversity is harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally by the experience. No two people respond to the same stressful situation in the same way. Those who fare better may be more stress resilient, <\/strong><\/em>which is about choosing a response that is beneficial, not harmful. <\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Kelly McGonigal, Stanford lecturer and stress expert, says that the harmful effects of stress aren\u2019t inevitable as she and other experts once thought they were. In her 2014 TED talk How To Make Stress Your Friend<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> she discusses how to change the body\u2019s response to stress.<\/p>\n

In other words, instead of working to rid yourself of stress you can practice responding to it differently. This isn\u2019t meant to be a quick fix, but with practice you can learn to respond in healthier ways.<\/p>\n

Two Ways to Respond Differently<\/h3>\n

#1 \u2013 Shift Your Beliefs and Thoughts About Stress<\/h4>\n
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If you believe stress is the enemy, this message is especially for you. Studies have shown that if you believe stress is harmful, it probably will be. You might interpret physical changes \u2013 your heart pounding, rapid breathing, increased sweating \u2013 as signs of stress or anxiety. Although this is a natural response to stress, it can lead to an unproductive downward spiral of negative thinking and actions.<\/p>\n

Instead, what if you could change that response to one that\u2019s more accurate and helpful? If you begin to understand that the body is actually preparing you for the challenge you\u2019re facing, you can change the way you think and feel about stress, and the body is likely to follow.<\/p>\n

Where do character strengths fit in? For starters, engage Love of Learning, <\/strong>a wisdom strength, to help you understand what happens physically when the body is under stress. For instance:<\/p>\n