This surprises people: some stress is good. Genuinely. Psychologists call it eustress, and it's the energy that shows up when something matters to you. Too little and you're flat and bored. Too much and you're overwhelmed. But that middle zone? That's where people perform their best: in the game, in the exam, on stage. So the goal of all this was never zero stress. It's learning to surf the useful amount. Slide along the curve and find where you were last time you did something that mattered.
Some stress is actually helpful. It shows us that something matters, and gives us energy to rise to a challenge. Stress only becomes unhelpful when it feels too big or doesn't go away.
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The Science
Why do coaches say a few nerves are good?
