“When you start living with the mindset that things happen for you — not to you — everything shifts. You begin to trust that whatever the outcome is, it’s better than the alternative you didn’t see.…
It allows you to see that there’s often something bigger going on than what’s right in front of you.”
there’s something magical about the way you worded this.
So much of the stress we feel comes from believing life is out to get us. But when you start seeing challenges as experiences that teach or shape you, the whole tone changes.
Your words makes me think that you don’t have to love the hard moments, but by searching for the lesson in each difficulty can make life feel lighter and more meaningful. 🖤
Thank you Anita. And yes, you nailed it perfectly. Life is not out to get us, it is out to teach us to become a better version of ourselves. To get more out of life. To find more joy and happiness and fulfillment. :-)
I like this way of seeing stress as a message rather than a mistake. A bit like a headache, it’s your body saying something needs attention or adjustment. When you listen instead of pushing through, it can gently guide you back to balance.
I know exactly what you mean, Tom. It does seem easier to focus on stress than happiness. I think that’s just how we’re wired, to scan for what might go wrong.
What I liked about reframing stress as a message is that it shifts it from something to fight into something to listen to. Not ignoring it, just asking what it’s pointing to.
Colin, this landed deeply. The moment stress shows up really is often the doorway right before a breakthrough. I’ve learned it’s rarely just “too much to do,” it’s usually a message that something needs to shift or be seen. Your gym story was such a human reminder that what feels like disruption can actually be protection. I’ve also noticed that when my nervous system gets emotionally charged, the same patterns repeat until I meet them with awareness instead of force. Calm doesn’t deny the stress, it transforms it. 🌹🦉🪶🪷
Thank you Salina. Yes, there is always a lesson in there somewhere. And we can’t force calm and quiet. We simply have to let go and allow. Thank you for your insights, I appreciate it.
Thank you Colin. It’s so true how stress just takes over our bodies and minds. I’ve experienced this feeling too many times in my life. Now when stress decides to knock on the door, I vent in my own way and take a few minutes. I’ve learned the hard way how to turn that energy around quickly. There are just some things in life that are beyond our control. Knowing thyself helps us understand…
Great post about stress and how to deal with it Colin. I have this experience with stress. The more you focus on it the more you get. So very true what you say here.
“When you start living with the mindset that things happen for you — not to you — everything shifts. You begin to trust that whatever the outcome is, it’s better than the alternative you didn’t see.…
It allows you to see that there’s often something bigger going on than what’s right in front of you.”
there’s something magical about the way you worded this.
So much of the stress we feel comes from believing life is out to get us. But when you start seeing challenges as experiences that teach or shape you, the whole tone changes.
Your words makes me think that you don’t have to love the hard moments, but by searching for the lesson in each difficulty can make life feel lighter and more meaningful. 🖤
Thank you Anita. And yes, you nailed it perfectly. Life is not out to get us, it is out to teach us to become a better version of ourselves. To get more out of life. To find more joy and happiness and fulfillment. :-)
Beautiful post and so true.
I specifically loved the line... The universe doesn’t hear, “I don’t want this.”
It hears, “This has energy.”
So powerful!
Thanks so much Claire 🙏🏼😊
I like this way of seeing stress as a message rather than a mistake. A bit like a headache, it’s your body saying something needs attention or adjustment. When you listen instead of pushing through, it can gently guide you back to balance.
Thank you Celia. Yes, a much better way of looking at things that happen to you.
I agree Celia!
I've just had bit of a lightbulb moment from something that you said in reply to Colin's article.
The thing I struggle with is that it always seems easier to focus on stress rather than happiness, no matter how hard I try to focus on the latter.
Maybe it's me or perhaps it's how humans are wired. Either way it's hard.
But your comment about how the body uses stress to highlight that something needs attention or adjustment, offers the perfect solution.
It does it by forcing your focus away from stress and onto a solution - you can't focus on both at the same time.
I know exactly what you mean, Tom. It does seem easier to focus on stress than happiness. I think that’s just how we’re wired, to scan for what might go wrong.
What I liked about reframing stress as a message is that it shifts it from something to fight into something to listen to. Not ignoring it, just asking what it’s pointing to.
I love how you framed that.
Colin, this landed deeply. The moment stress shows up really is often the doorway right before a breakthrough. I’ve learned it’s rarely just “too much to do,” it’s usually a message that something needs to shift or be seen. Your gym story was such a human reminder that what feels like disruption can actually be protection. I’ve also noticed that when my nervous system gets emotionally charged, the same patterns repeat until I meet them with awareness instead of force. Calm doesn’t deny the stress, it transforms it. 🌹🦉🪶🪷
Thank you Salina. Yes, there is always a lesson in there somewhere. And we can’t force calm and quiet. We simply have to let go and allow. Thank you for your insights, I appreciate it.
You’re welcome & it’s a blessing.🙏🌹🦉🪶
I’ve shifted to this way of thinking as well and it really is life changing. Thank you for sharing this message Colin 🙏
You’re welcome and thank you Darcy :-)
Thank you Colin. It’s so true how stress just takes over our bodies and minds. I’ve experienced this feeling too many times in my life. Now when stress decides to knock on the door, I vent in my own way and take a few minutes. I’ve learned the hard way how to turn that energy around quickly. There are just some things in life that are beyond our control. Knowing thyself helps us understand…
Thank you for your insight Jo-Ann. It’s incredibly powerful to be able to turn your energy around quickly. It makes all the difference doesn’t it?
It certainly does Colin
Great post about stress and how to deal with it Colin. I have this experience with stress. The more you focus on it the more you get. So very true what you say here.
Thanks so much Tony. Yes, you create what you focus on.