"My heart is pounding because my heart is in it. Because I care. Because my body is getting ready to rise to this challenge."
—Kelly McGonigal, author of The Upside of Stress
Have you fallen into the trap of thinking that all stress is toxic? If so, you may be unknowingly compounding the effects of it on your body and mind—or at least missing out on some of the benefits and insights stress has to offer. Kelly McGonigal, a pioneer in the field of "science help" and one of my favorite authors, debunks a number of stress myths in the episode. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did!
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More About Kelly McGonigal
Dr. Kelly McGonigal is a health psychologist and lecturer at Stanford University. Her mission is to translate insights from psychology and neuroscience into practical strategies that support personal well-being and strengthen communities.
She is the author of several books, including the international bestseller The Willpower Instinct and her latest book the The Upside of Stress. Her 2013 TED talk, How to Make Stress Your Friend, is one of the 20 Most Viewed TED talks of all time, with over 11 million views.
Through the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism, she co-authored the Stanford Compassion Cultivation Training and studies how social connection can promote health, happiness, and resilience.
Topics We Cover
The biggest misperceptions about stress
How the notion that stress is toxic might compound it
How we think about stress has a profound effect on how we respond
We have a choice how we will experience self-doubt, a pounding heart
If you always think stress is something to escape or suppress, you might miss the wisdom in it
Sometimes stress is a signal to double-down and engage more, sometimes it's the need to make a change
The stress mindset doesn't necessarily lower stress chemicals in the body, but it will shift you from a threat response into a challenge response that improves performance—whether athletic performance, taking an exam, public speaking, even karaoke pitch and tone!
Although we do "catch" the emotions of others—why the idea that "stress is contagious" is harmful, and the most important things we can do when feeling lonely, stressed or sad
Trust that your body and brain will push you in the direction of activating your bigger-than-self resources
Recognize the enormous capacity we have to deal with difficulty
Kelly's passion for group fitness, movement—dance, mixed martial arts, yoga. "It's like power posing for sixty minutes."
The role music plays in life and embodied memory, experience
The tragedy gap as a way to point you back toward what you most care about
Resources Mentioned
Kelly's TED talk: How to Make Stress Your Friend
Kelly's book writing albums: Raindeer Room: Chill it Out Christmas, and Home for the Holidays by Om Records
Previous Pivot Podcast: Vertigo
Book: Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior by Chogyam Trungpa
Kelly's Books:
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