Stress is a response

I used to think that external factors caused stress in me. While that may not be entirely wrong, a more correct way to think about stress is that stress is a response.

Recently, I discovered that stress is my response to what happens externally. Stress doesn’t come from outside ready-made, but rather, I create the stress within me. Thinking this way puts me on the driver seat.

Various things happen beyond my control. Responding to many of them by getting stressed is unhealthy and unsustainable. Stress starts as a mental discomfort and quickly evolves into physical discomfort.

I have long believed that taking ownership of the problem is the first step towards finding a solution. I have spent a long time blaming my problems on stress, but I think the time has come to acknowledge that I have the power and responsibility to stop stress from entering my system.