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1-2-3 Momentum

From Distress to Eustress

1 hard truth, 2 practical tips, and 3 power moves for July

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Eustress: a positive form of stress having a beneficial effect on health, motivation, performance, and emotional well-being.

We spend so much time talking about distress—the kind of stress that leaves us anxious, overwhelmed, sad. But here’s something you probably haven’t heard much about: eustress. It contains the Greek prefix eu, meaning “good” or “healthy”—same root as euphoria. Just like euphoria is the uplifting opposite of dysphoria, eustress is the driven, hopeful sister of distress.

We say we want to “get rid of stress,” but that’s not the real goal. We need some amount of stress. Without it, we stagnate. We get bored. And boredom? That’s the real enemy.

Eustress is the pressure that pulls us forward—it’s the late nights, the extra miles, the savings account you’re building for something that matters. It’s the kind of hard work you want to do, because the thing you’re working toward actually lights you up. You’re not just pushing through… you’re being pulled by purpose.

1 Hard Truth -

Stress is not the problem.

2 Practical Tips

1. Listen to the Whisper Before It Becomes a Scream
   If you feel that low hum of restlessness—pay attention. That’s your soul knocking. Don’t drown it out with busyness or numb it with distraction. Write it down. Sit with it. It’s not weakness—it’s direction. Eustress begins the moment you admit you want more.
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2. Do One Brave Thing a Day
   A text you’re afraid to send. A class you’ve been eyeing. A conversation you’ve been avoiding. One step—small but brave—every day. That’s how you exit the life that’s “fine” and start building one that’s true.
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3 Power Moves

1. Burn the Backup Plan
   Stop planning for failure. If you’re half-in, you’ll always have one foot in the mediocre. Commit. Bet on yourself like a fulfilling life depends on it—because it does.
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2. Let Boredom Break You
   That dull ache of sameness? Boredom is the root of unhappiness. Does it hurt enough yet? Are you finally “too something to do something”? Boredom is not simply a nuisance. It’s your body begging you to live differently.
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3. Give Your Dream a Deadline
   Not someday. Not when things calm down. Pick a date. Make it real. Create eustress in your life —a finish line that gets your heart racing and your calendar shifting. A deadline turns a fantasy into a plan.

Positive stress is exciting and motivating. Find some eustress!

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