This Is How I Am Navigating Stress

Many people spend a lot of time talking about stress—how to manage, eliminate, or cope with it. But perhaps that’s part of the problem. What if we approached stress differently?

Imagine a line with calm on one end (left) and stress on the other (right). 

For too long, we’ve focused on the right side, obsessing over stress and how to handle it. But as the saying goes, what you focus on grows. By constantly focusing on stress, we often end up creating more of it.

Let’s flip the script. Shift your focus to the left side of the line. The path toward calm requires certain mindsets, habits, and behaviors. 

Instead of fixating on stress, channel your energy toward calm. With consistent practice, this approach can bring more balance into your life.

This isn’t about making stress disappear altogether—it’s a part of adulthood and sometimes a helpful motivator. 

But by building a foundation of calm, you can reduce the frequency and intensity of stress, making it feel less overwhelming and easier to handle when it arises.

For example, take Lagos traffic. It’s a reality we face, and while it’s unpleasant, we can reduce its negative impact by planning better. 

Whether you hire a driver, listen to personal development audio, or ride with friends, making the best of that time can help you navigate this unavoidable stressor without letting it control your mood or day.

There are also activities that foster calm. For years, I’ve used morning meditation and exercise to start my day, and these practices help me feel grounded and resilient. 

They’ve increased my threshold for handling acute stressors, allowing me to face disruptions with a more centered mind. Feeling good and thinking positively create resilience, building up your internal capacity to withstand challenges.

Often, we believe resilience only comes from hardship, but resilience is simply the capacity to recover or withstand difficulties. This capacity grows through various experiences, not just struggles. Feeling grounded after activities like meditation and exercise contributes directly to this inner strength.

So, from today, focus on the left side of that line. Lean into calm through intentional activities. Stop obsessing about handling stress; instead, focus on daily practices that make you feel and think positively. With each small step toward calm, you’ll be better equipped to handle everyday stressors. And if you’re dealing with chronic stress, remember to seek help from a professional.

I hope this helps.