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How to Meditate: Meditation 101 for Beginners
10 Science-Backed Benefits of Meditation
What is Meditation?
How to Meditate: Meditation 101 for Beginners
10 Science-Backed Benefits of Meditation
What is Meditation?
Benefits of Mindfulness: Mindful Living Can Change Your Life
Mindfulness 101: A Beginner's Guide
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Hi, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session, I'm going to share two different kinds of stress. So a common narrative is that stress is bad, but this is simplistic. Chances are, you've probably seen when stress has served you in a positive way. Maybe helping you to meet a deadline, maybe telling you when you need to change something in your life, maybe providing a little extra motivation to accomplish something.
So we all have stories of when stress has served us. We all also have stories of when stress has not served us, when it's been too overwhelming, maybe to the point of being debilitating. So this is where we can start to see two different kinds of stress. There's use stress and then there's distress. Use stress can be helpful.
It can be enough stress that we have some motivation for our growth or to accomplish something. And use stress is within our tolerance. It's something that we can hold internally without feeling like it's too overwhelming. It can also be a form of a cognitive enhancement. It can make us a little sharper.
Distress is stress that is too overwhelming. It's holding us back. There's too much activation in our nervous system. This is when the stress that you're feeling is not allowing you to think straight. It's causing you to maybe feel irrational in relationship to what's coming up.
Too much fear, and you're not able to do something that is a, a daily task of yours. So use stress versus distress. Usestress is essentially when the energy provided is proportionate to what is. So stress is a form of energy in the body. And so when that energy is proportionate to what is needed in the moment.
So if you think of needing to, let's say, work on a paper, you have a deadline, you need some energy to get sitting down, typing at your computer, thinking about it. A little bit of stress and activation can serve us there. But if we're feeling too stressed, I don't know what to do. I don't know what to say. I don't know where to start.
All of that activation can actually prevent us from being able to do anything. And then instead we, we distract ourselves, or we take a nap, something to avoid it. That's when we go into the category of distress, when the energy feels excessive and unusable. So the main takeaway for today is just to recognize that there are these two different kinds of stress: use stress and distress. And being aware of that throughout the day can be helpful for you.
One, to just have the self-awareness of like, oh, this is a, I am feeling some stress, but it's a healthy form of stress that's serving me, or I'm feeling some stress and I think it's an indication of I need to take a break, put up some boundaries, practice some self-care. Just that awareness can help you be more intentional in relationship to what's arising in your life. Thank you for your practice. Let's settle in for today's meditation.
Two Kinds of Stress
Personalized support for learning how to integrate mindfulness into your life. Delivered fresh everyday by our world renowned experts. Choose meditation duration:
Duration
Your default time is based on your progress and is changed automatically as you practice.
Hi, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session, I'm going to share two different kinds of stress. So a common narrative is that stress is bad, but this is simplistic. Chances are, you've probably seen when stress has served you in a positive way. Maybe helping you to meet a deadline, maybe telling you when you need to change something in your life, maybe providing a little extra motivation to accomplish something.
So we all have stories of when stress has served us. We all also have stories of when stress has not served us, when it's been too overwhelming, maybe to the point of being debilitating. So this is where we can start to see two different kinds of stress. There's use stress and then there's distress. Use stress can be helpful.
It can be enough stress that we have some motivation for our growth or to accomplish something. And use stress is within our tolerance. It's something that we can hold internally without feeling like it's too overwhelming. It can also be a form of a cognitive enhancement. It can make us a little sharper.
Distress is stress that is too overwhelming. It's holding us back. There's too much activation in our nervous system. This is when the stress that you're feeling is not allowing you to think straight. It's causing you to maybe feel irrational in relationship to what's coming up.
Too much fear, and you're not able to do something that is a, a daily task of yours. So use stress versus distress. Usestress is essentially when the energy provided is proportionate to what is. So stress is a form of energy in the body. And so when that energy is proportionate to what is needed in the moment.
So if you think of needing to, let's say, work on a paper, you have a deadline, you need some energy to get sitting down, typing at your computer, thinking about it. A little bit of stress and activation can serve us there. But if we're feeling too stressed, I don't know what to do. I don't know what to say. I don't know where to start.
All of that activation can actually prevent us from being able to do anything. And then instead we, we distract ourselves, or we take a nap, something to avoid it. That's when we go into the category of distress, when the energy feels excessive and unusable. So the main takeaway for today is just to recognize that there are these two different kinds of stress: use stress and distress. And being aware of that throughout the day can be helpful for you.
One, to just have the self-awareness of like, oh, this is a, I am feeling some stress, but it's a healthy form of stress that's serving me, or I'm feeling some stress and I think it's an indication of I need to take a break, put up some boundaries, practice some self-care. Just that awareness can help you be more intentional in relationship to what's arising in your life. Thank you for your practice. Let's settle in for today's meditation.
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Vidyamala’s tips on catching anger as it’s happening or about to happen are great - clear, practical, and doable.
- Vicoir
The little talks before the meditations are priceless. It's like I've found my peeps. The topics, the quotes, the goals—it all makes so much sense to me, things I want to be thinking and learning about. Most importantly, the meditations are kindness-centered, which I love. It feels like a new way to approach meditation.
- Lauren
Incredible, easy to navigate app. I would highly recommend this app to anyone who wishes to reduce stress and anxiety or simply as an aid to improve overall mental health.
- Kirtus
I love how the app gives me pointers to new things to explore.
- Lydia
So calm and soothing. I love the new bundle with Kelly Boys, she’s brilliant!
- EJ
Better than Headspace. I've had the paid version of both apps, and I must say I enjoy this one better.
- Gina, Plus+ Member
Vidyamala’s tips on catching anger as it’s happening or about to happen are great - clear, practical, and doable.
- Vicoir
The little talks before the meditations are priceless. It's like I've found my peeps. The topics, the quotes, the goals—it all makes so much sense to me, things I want to be thinking and learning about. Most importantly, the meditations are kindness-centered, which I love. It feels like a new way to approach meditation.
- Lauren
Incredible, easy to navigate app. I would highly recommend this app to anyone who wishes to reduce stress and anxiety or simply as an aid to improve overall mental health.
- Kirtus
I love how the app gives me pointers to new things to explore.
- Lydia
So calm and soothing. I love the new bundle with Kelly Boys, she’s brilliant!
- EJ
Better than Headspace. I've had the paid version of both apps, and I must say I enjoy this one better.
- Gina, Plus+ Member
Vidyamala’s tips on catching anger as it’s happening or about to happen are great - clear, practical, and doable.
- Vicoir
The little talks before the meditations are priceless. It's like I've found my peeps. The topics, the quotes, the goals—it all makes so much sense to me, things I want to be thinking and learning about. Most importantly, the meditations are kindness-centered, which I love. It feels like a new way to approach meditation.
- Lauren
Incredible, easy to navigate app. I would highly recommend this app to anyone who wishes to reduce stress and anxiety or simply as an aid to improve overall mental health.
- Kirtus
I love how the app gives me pointers to new things to explore.
- Lydia
So calm and soothing. I love the new bundle with Kelly Boys, she’s brilliant!
- EJ
Better than Headspace. I've had the paid version of both apps, and I must say I enjoy this one better.
- Gina, Plus+ Member
I am very new to meditation, and am so happy that my first introduction to it has been through this app
The first session was fantastic. I feel safe. And supported. Almost like having someone helping me through my difficult time. I’m very grateful for this app.
- Babi
You get a lot of useful tips for handling stress and anxiety in 'real life'.
- Joy
Highly recommend.
- Humanfrst
Kelly Boys is hands down the best. Everytime I click on one of her guided meditations I get excited for the calmness that lies ahead.
-
I am very new to meditation, and am so happy that my first introduction to it has been through this app
The first session was fantastic. I feel safe. And supported. Almost like having someone helping me through my difficult time. I’m very grateful for this app.
- Babi
You get a lot of useful tips for handling stress and anxiety in 'real life'.
- Joy
Highly recommend.
- Humanfrst
Kelly Boys is hands down the best. Everytime I click on one of her guided meditations I get excited for the calmness that lies ahead.
-
I am very new to meditation, and am so happy that my first introduction to it has been through this app
The first session was fantastic. I feel safe. And supported. Almost like having someone helping me through my difficult time. I’m very grateful for this app.
- Babi
You get a lot of useful tips for handling stress and anxiety in 'real life'.
- Joy
Highly recommend.
- Humanfrst
Kelly Boys is hands down the best. Everytime I click on one of her guided meditations I get excited for the calmness that lies ahead.
-
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