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Reframing Stress: Navigating Life's Fast Pace

Writer's picture: Aurora ZoffAurora Zoff


In a world where our lives unfold faster than ever before, stress has become an unavoidable companion. As we strive to keep up with the demands of modern life, our nervous system and psyche often find themselves overwhelmed by the rapidity of change and the incessant barrage of stimuli. In the words of J. Kabat Zinn, our lives are unfolding faster than our ability to manage them well.

But what if we could reframe our relationship with stress? What if we could shift our mindset to see stress not as an enemy to be avoided but as a natural response to what we care about? This shift in perspective can empower us, making us feel more in control and capable of managing stress.

For many of us, stress is not merely a sign of overload or incompetence but a signal of our investment in something meaningful. This perspective invites us to reconsider stress as a testament to our values and passions rather than a hindrance to our well-being.

One avenue for reshaping our stress mindset is through stress mindset interventions. By consciously altering our beliefs and attitudes about stress, we can make practical changes in how we experience and respond to it. The Stress Mindset Scale (https://mbl.stanford.edu/resources/measures/stress-mindset-measure-adult-version) offers a tool for assessing and reshaping our perceptions of stress, guiding us towards a more adaptive mindset.

Journaling can be a powerful practice for exploring and reframing our responses to stress. By reflecting on what we say or do when we feel stressed, how we respond to others' stress, and the influence of societal definitions of stress on our lives, we gain insights into our patterns of thought and behaviour. This self-awareness lays the groundwork for implementing strategies to manage stress more effectively.

Ask yourself:

What do you say (loudly or inwardly) when you feel stressed?

What do you say/do when you notice someone around you being stressed?

How does the societal definition of stress influence you?



Completing the stress cycle (https://psychcentral.com/stress/the-stress-response-cycle#How-to-complete-the-stress-cycle) is essential for restoring equilibrium to our bodies and minds. Exercise, deep breathing techniques like box breathing, positive social interactions, laughter, affection, crying, and creative expression are all potent ways to discharge accumulated stress through our bodies and not just rationalising it in our minds.




Beware of "energy vampires" – individuals who drain our vitality with negativity and doubt. By assessing how we feel after spending time with certain people, we can discern whether they contribute positively or detract from our well-being. Setting boundaries and cultivating relationships with supportive and uplifting individuals are crucial to protecting our energy.


Mindfulness offers an invaluable antidote to the frantic pace of modern life. By cultivating a courageous presence, we can meet life's challenges with equanimity and grace. Mindfulness is not about escaping from reality but about engaging with it fully, with openness and acceptance. Is this easy? Subscribe to my newsletter to join me in practising more meditation.


Reframing stress is not always easy, but it is worth undertaking. This journey can inspire us to grow and become more resilient as we navigate life's fast pace, without sugarcoating the real issues (at work and home) but becoming even more laser-focused on what we care about (our values).

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