According to the American Psychological Association, 77 percent of people regularly experience physical symptoms caused by stress. Nearly 50 percent report it has negative effects on their personal and professional lives.

Whether it’s pressure at work or money issues – the Top 2 causes of stress in the U.S. – stress can take its toll physically. It triggers the body’s emergency response, releasing a flood of hormones to prepare us for action. Our heart pounds and muscles tighten, while our strength and stamina increase.

But wait – those symptoms don’t sound all bad, do they? What if we could change the way we think of stress, and in turn, alter its impact on our bodies and minds? Being energized and hyper-focused on the task at hand could be a real benefit instead of a negative. There’s a good reason why endocrinologist Hans Selye, who spent his entire career studying the human stress response, said, “It’s not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.”

In this issue of The Pulse, we share a TED Talk by psychologist Kelly McGonigal, who explains the importance of embracing stress and the benefits it can bring to other areas of our life. Changing your mindset could literally save your life.

To watch the video, go to How To Make Stress Your Friend.