TED Talk Make Job Search Stress Work for You

TED Talk Make Job Search Stress Work for YouTED Talk Make Job Search Stress Work for You1If youre like most job seekers, youre probably under a lot of stress. But instead of viewing stress as something negative, a new TED Talk reveals that stress is actually good for you, your body, and your life. It makes you stronger, both physically and emotionally, allowing you to form better bonds with people.For years, psychologist Kelly McGonigal had counseled her clients to avoid stress. After all, stress is often called the silent killer. Then she read about a new study conducted with over 30,000 Americans for eight years. The study looked to see how much stress people experienced and how it affected their health. People who believe that stress can kill them have a 43 percent higher chance of dying than those who didnt think the saatkorn way. Case in point Those who had stress but didnt view it negatively had the lowest risk of dying.Believing that stress can kill you actually can. Over 20,0 00 deaths a year happen from a stress-related incident, making stress the 15th biggest killer of Americans in the United States, killing even more people than HIV/AIDS, homicide, or even skin cancer. Chronic stress is linked to cardiovascular disease.Rethink Your Opinion of StressSince stress is always going to be a part of your life, the way to survive- and thrive- is to change your perspective about stress. A second stress study conducted by Harvard University found that when people changed their views on stress, a remarkable thing happened. They did better. Instead of having their blood vessels constrict (as they do when youre under a lot of negative stress), they were relaxed.In fact, having your blood vessels wide open is what happens when you are in moments of joy- and courage. So viewing stress as a positive thing- i.e., your heart pounding is preparing you for action, and breathing harder is a sign that more oxygen is going to your brain- can mean all the difference between having a heart attack at 50 and living well into your 90s, according to McGonigal.Stress and SociabilityA third and final study discovered something even more interesting. Stress makes you social. When youre stressed, the body releases oxytocin, which stimulates you to crave physical contact, allows you to be more empathetic, and makes you more willing to help others. Oxytocin is a stress response, just as much as adrenaline is.And it does something even cooler- it helps heart cells regenerate and recover from any stress-induced damage. Essentially, your body has a built-in system to help you deal with and recover from stress- and that is achieved through philanthropisch connection. As McGonigal stated in her TED Talk, Caring for others creates resilience.Stress gets you moving, but instead of viewing it as a negative, view stress in a positive light, suggest McGonigal. Stress gives us access to our hearts, says McGonigal. Your pounding physical heart gives you the strength and ener gy to move forward. You can trust yourself to handle lifes challenges and youre remembering that you dont have to face them alone.Readers, how do you handle your stress? Does this Ted Talk affect how you will handle your own stress in the future? Let us know in the comments section below