Stress is not all bad. Stress becomes strength during “downtime” if you activate your natural renewal reactions, quieting the "monkey mind" and triggering healing and growth.

Never think of yourself as a machine, like a car which wears down a little, every time you use it. Unlike a machine, when you get the right combination of exercise, rest, and nourishment, the "wear" on your body, mind, and spirit doesn’t merely heal you; it can actually increase your strength, horsepower, and endurance - even after an injury! The ability to transform stress and recovery into strength, flexibility, and resilience is part of the miracle of living things.

Physical stress ("fight or flight") and recovery ("rest and digest"), such as weightlifting followed by rest, sleep, and protein gives you greater strength for doing and using things

Social stress ("defend and distance") and recovery ("tend and befriend"), such as disclosing your struggles to a trusted companion, sharing meals, or taking a challenging class build your mental and emotional strengths and your ability to think more clearly and manage your feelings better.

Spiritual stress ("selfish and survivalist") and recovery ("pause and plan") - the struggle between self-interest and service to others - give you a greater sense of values, purpose, and priorities.

The "monkey mind" stress autopilot activates automatically, but you need "resilience routines" to activate recovery and quiet sticky stress reactions. These attitudes and activities lower stress hormones and increase oxytocin, androgens, and others that promote healing, growth, motivation, willpower, and self-discipline.

You will learn why sleep, rest, diet, nature, mind-body practices (mindfulness, yoga, martial arts, tai chi, etc.), social connection, transparency, vulnerability, courage, contemplation, mission, values, meaning, and purpose are essential to overcoming the physical, social, and spiritual disconnections that erode our resilience.