Stress is something we all experience, yet so many of us spend our lives trying to avoid it. For years, I was no different. I thought stress was the enemy, something to escape. That perspective changed dramatically for me one day when I thought I was having a heart attack.
The tightness in my chest, the overwhelming feeling of dread—I was convinced it was a heart issue. A trip to the hospital revealed something else entirely: I had experienced a panic attack. That incident forced me to take a hard look at how I was managing stress and the toll it was taking on my body and mind.
At first, I responded by focusing on my physical health. I began running and eventually became a marathon runner. I made dietary changes, prioritized exercise, and started to feel better. But while my body was getting stronger, my mindset about stress hadn’t changed. I still saw it as something to fight, avoid, or resent.
It wasn’t until years later that I began to understand the real secret to stress: it’s not something to fear. Stress is a necessary part of growth. When you reframe your perspective, it’s no longer the enemy—it becomes a tool.