Stress is toxic the way most of us experience it every day.
But did you know intentional stress in small doses can make you stronger at the cellular level?
Me neither...
I learned about this concept in the book Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, by John Ratey, M.D.
Ratey goes into great deal to share the science of how movement is inextricably linked to mental health. And how it prevents everything from cancer to dementia to diabetes.
But what most fascinated me was Ratey's explanation of short-term stress followed by a recovery period.
Stress damages cells.
But when stress is approached in this short-term, intentional way, the cells not only repair themselves, but they become stronger. Then, you can handle the next stressful experience easier.
While this example is related to the stresses of exercise on the body, I imagine it applies to our work as musicians and teachers as well.
The short-term stress of challenging ourselves to do X minutes of focused practice per day.
The short-term stress of performing in front of an audience. (I prefer "excitement," but it's all adrenaline).
The short-term stress of speaking in public.
So long as we approach it intentionally with a recovery period after, we get stronger. Then the next one gets easier.
Used properly, intentional stress in small doses could be the greatest teacher our brains could ask for. The teacher of resilience.