GR-004: Transforming Stress into Strength

Alexis

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Alexis

Hey there, and welcome to another episode of Gratitude Reflections—where we explore real moments, real gratitude, and real growth.

Max

I'm Max—

Alexis

—and I’m Alexis. Thanks for joining us as we slow things down, reflect on life, and dig into the stories that shape how we show up each day.

Max

Today’s journal entry really got us thinking. It’s about stress—but not in the usual “just breathe and power through” way.

Alexis

Right. This one challenges the whole idea of stress management. Instead of asking how we cope, it invites us to ask a better question—what if the stress isn’t the real problem?

Max

And the answer starts with one powerful quote from Sadhguru. We’ll let that kick things off.

Alexis

Here’s today’s reflection.

Alexis

April 2, 2025: Today I’m reflecting on something that shifted how I view stress.

Alexis

I came across a quote from Sadhguru that said: "We manage what is precious to us—our family, our finances, our future. Why would anyone manage stress?"

Alexis

That stopped me. It made me realize—we've normalized stress. We treat it like a part of life we just have to carry.

Alexis

We even build systems around how to manage it. But what if stress isn't something to manage—what if it's something to outgrow?

Alexis

I used to think stress came from my job or my to-do list.

Alexis

But now I see stress often comes from a belief—the belief that I can't handle what life is throwing at me.

Alexis

That belief creates resistance. That resistance creates stress. And the good news is… beliefs can be rewired.

Alexis

So today, I'm grateful for this wake-up call. Grateful to remember that peace isn't just about changing the situation—

Alexis

Sometimes it's about changing the story I’m telling myself.

Alexis

What would I do right now if I truly believed I could handle this?

Alexis

That’s the question I’m carrying with me today.

Max

You know, that journal entry really stopped me in my tracks. The idea of not just managing stress, but actually outgrowing it—it’s such a shift. It made me think about how often I treat stress like it’s a permanent fixture in my life, instead of something I could let go of entirely.

Alexis

—a total shift, right? The part that really got me was realizing how much stress is tied to resistance. Like, it’s not the thing itself, it’s how we push back against it.

Max

Exactly. And I'll admit—I’m I’m one of those people who’s probably spent too much time trying to manage stress, y'know? Like, I’ve got my apps or whatever telling me to meditate and “just breathe.” But hearing it framed like this…it clicked.

Alexis

Yeah, it’s almost like we’ve just accepted it. Like, stress is a roommate we don’t really like, but we’ve given it its own drawer in the kitchen anyway.

Max

Oh, totally. And now I’m wondering if half the effort we put into managing stress is actually just... feeding it. Like, we treat it as this permanent fixture instead of something we can rewrite.

Alexis

Mmm, yeah. That hits. I mean, it reminds me of this one time—I had this crazy deadline at work, right? And I was spiraling. Like, late-night panic-drafting emails, caffeine-fueled rants to my friends, the works. But when I really broke it down later, it wasn’t even the project itself that stressed me out—it was this story I was telling myself.

Max

What was the story?

Alexis

Oh, that I couldn’t handle it. Like, I made it this whole "If I mess this up, everything will fall apart" scenario. And when I stepped back, I realized… the actual task wasn’t as complicated as I was making it. It’s crazy how much weight a belief can carry, right?

Max

Totally. And hearing that makes me think—you’ve got a point about the belief being the root of stress. It’s not always about what’s happening outside of you. It’s like... it’s all in the framing.

Alexis

Exactly. And when I changed the story I was telling myself? Boom. Less resistance, less stress. It didn’t make things easier right away, but—but it gave me a way back to calm, if that makes sense.

Max

Makes total sense. You know what this reminded me of? *Inside Out 2*. That whole idea that beliefs—especially the ones rooted in anxiety or fear—can actually reshape how we see ourselves. Like, those little core memory orbs? Do do you think we’re carrying stress orbs around?

Max

That whole idea of carrying stress orbs around—it’s so tied to how we frame things. Like that Sadhguru quote: “We manage what is precious to us—our family, our finances, our future. Why would anyone manage stress?” It’s kind of like a Zen riddle, don’t you think?

Alexis

Totally. But it hits, doesn’t it? Like, what if the problem isn't stress itself—what if it’s how we’ve decided to live with it? It’s kinda like we gave stress a VIP pass to our lives.

Max

Right. And I’ve been thinking—if managing something means it’s valuable to you, then what does it say about us when we treat stress like this constant project? It’s like saying... "Hey, stress, you're important enough that I need a whole system to deal with you."

Alexis

Exactly. And here’s the kicker—what if managing stress is just another way we avoid managing ourselves? Like, instead of dealing with the root of why we’re stressed, we throw a bunch of, I don’t know, techniques at it and hope for the best.

Max

—Yeah, yeah, like we slap a meditation app on it and call it a day.

Alexis

Exactly. But that only works if—if stress is the problem. And maybe it’s not. Maybe it’s just the symptom.

Max

So, okay, let’s say stress isn’t the main problem. How do we even figure out what the real issue is? Like, what’s your starting point for that?

Alexis

Honestly? I think it starts with looking at how we see ourselves in those stressful moments. Like, Sadhguru’s quote isn’t just about stress—it’s about managing yourself. Are you showing up as someone who believes they can handle what’s in front of them... or are you showing up with doubt?

Max

Yeah, I I like that. But it also feels kinda abstract, you know? Like, okay, I’ve identified I’m showing up with doubt. What do I do with that? How do I... shift that belief?

Alexis

Fair point. I mean, this isn’t instant. But I think it starts with just noticing when doubt shows up. Kinda like catching it in the act. And instead of trying to fix the stress—or the situation—you work on deciding, “Hey, I’m actually capable here.”

Max

So it's like flipping the script on yourself. But doesn’t that take a ton of practice? I feel like my brain would just go, “Yeah, nah, you’re stressed. Nice try though.”

Alexis

Totally. It’s not like your brain suddenly rolls out the red carpet. But it’s the small shifts, y’know? First it’s catching the thought, then maybe questioning it, and slowly, you start to believe in your ability to handle things. It’s a process, not a, like, light switch.

Max

Okay, so baby steps. I can handle that. What I’m wondering, though, is what makes this shift stick? Like, how do you keep coming back to yourself, especially when life’s just throwing one thing after another?

Max

Right, so if it’s about coming back to yourself, then I guess that ties into this idea we’ve been hinting at—that stress isn’t just about the job or the crazy schedule, but what we believe about it. Like, are we saying it’s all in our heads?

Alexis

Well, kinda, yeah. I mean, don’t get me wrong—external stuff matters. But it’s like... how you see yourself in those situations really shifts how stressful they feel. It’s not the job itself—it’s whether you believe you can keep up with it, you know?

Max

Yeah, I hear that, but isn’t that easier said than done? Like, okay, great, I’ll just change my belief system overnight. No big deal.

Alexis

Oh, totally. Beliefs don’t just, like—*poof*—change. It’s messy. But think about it this way—beliefs are, like, stories we tell ourselves, right? And stories can evolve. You rewrite the narrative bit by bit.

Max

Mmm. Okay, but I gotta ask, when did this click for you? Like, was there a specific moment when you went from being stressed to realizing, “Wait, this is about my belief in me”?

Alexis

Oh, yeah. There was this project a few years back—a huge creative pitch I had to lead—and I was losing it. I mean, I didn’t sleep for days. And the whole time, I was stuck in this loop of, “If this fails, it’s all on me.”

Max

But it wasn’t?

Alexis

Nope, turns out it wasn’t. Like, yeah, I had a big role in it, but I stepped back at some point and realized... the stress wasn’t just about deadlines or expectations. It was coming from this belief that if I didn’t get it perfect, I’d fail. *I’d* fail. Which wasn’t even true—it was a team effort. But that belief had all the power until I called it out.

Max

Oooh, okay, so it’s about catching the belief in action. Like, noticing that internal voice that’s, like, screaming doom and gloom, and going, “Wait a second, is this even real?”

Alexis

Exactly! And it’s wild how much something shifts once you do that. It’s like flipping the light on in a dark room—it doesn’t change the furniture, but now you see where you’re stepping.

Max

Alright, that's... actually a cool metaphor. But I’m still stuck on this idea of societal stuff, though. Like, stress isn’t just some personal thing. I mean, burnout culture? Hustle mentality? Do you think we’ve kinda built a system where stress is, like, baked in?

Alexis

Oh, 100%. We’ve made stress the status symbol, right? Like, if you’re not maxed out, you’re not working hard enough. It’s no wonder beliefs about “not being able to handle it” thrive in that environment.

Max

Yeah, I’ve definitely been guilty of bragging about how stressed I am, like it’s some badge of honor. But now I’m thinking... that’s just feeding the cycle, isn’t it?

Alexis

It is. And the tough part is—it’s not just about us individually. It’s about how our culture normalizes that whole glorification of stress. So when we talk about beliefs, yeah, some of them come from inside us, but others? They’re, like, handed to us without asking if we even want them.

Max

Yeah, so we’re not just managing stress; we’re managing the whole belief system behind why we’re stressed. That’s... heavy.

Alexis

It is, but there’s also freedom in that. I mean, if beliefs can be written, they can be rewritten. And that gives us the power to step back and go, "Wait, what’s really mine here and what’s just noise?"

Max

Okay, so here’s a thought—what about those public figures who seem totally chill under pressure? Do you think they’ve just rewritten their beliefs about stress?

Alexis

Hmm, not all of them, probably. But I think the most resilient ones? Yeah. They’ve done the work. Like Michelle Obama—she talked about feeling imposter syndrome even as First Lady. But the way she reframed it? That’s belief work right there.

Max

Okay, yeah, I remember her saying that. Something about learning to own her space, right?

Alexis

Exactly! She didn’t wait for the world to tell her she was enough. She decided to believe in her ability to show up—flaws and all. That’s the kind of story rewrite we’re talking about. It’s not about being perfect, but about believing you can handle the imperfect moments.

Max

Alright, so... where do we even start with something like that?

Max

Okay, so belief rewrites sound great in, like, theory, but what about when everything’s on fire? You’re 10 tasks deep, the deadline’s yesterday—how do you actually reframe the story in that kind of chaos?

Alexis

Fair question. And yeah, it’s not like you can just snap your fingers and make the stress disappear. But what I’ve found is—it’s not about fixing the moment completely. It’s more about how you approach it. Like, here’s a quick example.

Max

Hit me.

Alexis

Okay, so last month, I had this massive family gathering to plan. The kind where everyone has opinions, and you’re basically juggling, I don’t know, fifty moving pieces and hoping something doesn’t explode.

Max

Sounds... like a lot.

Alexis

Oh, it was. And by day two, I was overwhelmed. But then I stopped and asked myself that question from the journal entry—“What would I do if I truly believed I could handle this?” And you know what? It shifted everything.

Max

Really? That one question?

Alexis

Yeah, because it reminded me that I didn’t have to get everything perfect. Like, I started breaking it down. Instead of freaking out about the catering falling through, I thought, “Okay, what’s Plan B?” It became less about the problems and more about how I could handle them, one step at a time.

Max

Okay, so you’re saying the shift wasn’t magical, but it gave you a starting point. Like, reframing the story cuts through the chaos enough to make a move?

Alexis

Exactly. It’s about rewriting the mental narrative from “This is too much for me” to “What’s my next step?” And those small shifts build momentum.

Max

Mmm. I like the idea of momentum. It feels... doable. But I’m not gonna lie—when I’m deep in it, my brain’s like, “Cool story, but let’s panic anyway.”

Alexis

Totally get that. Panic is persistent. But this isn’t about chasing perfection, it’s about progress. Even catching yourself panicking and reframing for just, like, five seconds—it’s a win.

Max

Okay, but I need examples of “wins.” What does a mental shift look like in regular, messy life? Like, give me something I can work with.

Alexis

Alright, let’s say you’re drowning in deadlines. Instead of thinking, “I’ll never finish this on time,” you reframe to, “What’s one thing I can knock out right now?” It’s not about solving everything at once—it’s about creating a foothold to climb out of the overwhelm.

Max

Alright, alright, that’s... practical, I’ll admit. But what’s the trick to remembering to reframe in the first place? Like, it’s easy to forget mid-chaos.

Alexis

That’s where practice comes in. I mean, it’s like training your brain, right? The more you catch yourself spiraling and pause to reframe, the more natural it gets. It’s messy, sure, but isn’t life always?

Max

True. Life is definitely messy. And I’m starting to think a little messiness might actually work in our favor... as long as we know how to rewrite the story we're telling ourselves.

Alexis

Alright, so if rewriting the story we tell ourselves is the goal, let’s get specific—what belief are you holding onto right now that might be piling on the pressure instead of helping?

Max

Oof. You’re just gonna sneak up on me with the deep questions like that, huh?

Alexis

I mean, yeah. Gotta keep you on your toes, Max.

Max

Alright, alright. If I’m being honest, I think one belief I’ve carried for... probably forever, honestly, is that I need to have everything figured out ahead of time—or else I’m, y’know, failing.

Alexis

Mmm, that’s a big one. So how’s that belief treating you?

Max

Not great, I gotta say. Like, it keeps me from starting stuff because I’m so caught up in the fear of “What if I mess up?”

Alexis

Right? And that fear just spirals. It’s like, instead of focusing on one step, you’re busy writing the whole disaster movie in your head.

Max

Totally. Starring me as “Guy Who Drops The Ball” and directed by my brain’s greatest hits of self-doubt.

Alexis

Pfft, relatable. But what if you rewrote that story? Like, instead of “I need it all figured out,” you tried, “I just need to figure out the next step.”

Max

Hmm. Yeah, that’s practical. I mean, smaller wins do feel less terrifying. But you know me—I’m a work in progress.

Alexis

Aren’t we all? Okay, so here’s the thing I ask myself when I spiral—it’s the prompt from today’s entry: *What would I do if I believed I could handle this?*

Max

Alright, I’ll bite. What’s your answer when you ask yourself that?

Alexis

Honestly? It depends. Sometimes the answer’s super practical, like making a checklist. Other times, it’s just taking a breath and reminding myself, “Alexis, you’ve handled worse.”

Max

Okay, but what if your brain doesn’t believe that? Like, mine would just laugh and go, “Yeah, nice try, pal.”

Alexis

Oh, it totally does that sometimes. But the goal isn’t to feel 100% confident right away—it’s to just plant the seed of a better belief. Even if it’s tiny and feels shaky at first.

Max

Mmm, planting seeds, huh? I can get behind that. I mean, it’s better than watering the stress weeds.

Alexis

Exactly! And look, this doesn’t mean pretending things aren’t hard. It just means giving yourself a shot at handling them without piling on extra pressure.

Max

Alright, so I’m hearing: Start small, reframe the belief, and maybe ask myself that question—

Alexis

—*What would I do if I believed I could handle this?*

Max

Yeah. That one. I might have to write it down or something... like, tattoo it on my arm. I'm kidding.

Alexis

Or just journal it, you know? Seriously, even jotting it down once can help rewire how you approach stuff.

Max

Alright, I’ll give it a shot. But if I show up next week all Zen and mysterious, you’re gonna know why.

Alexis

Can’t wait, honestly.

Alexis

So, as we talked about before—whether you’re in the thick of something stressful or just looking back on it—pause and ask yourself: “What am I telling myself right now about this?”

Max

And even more importantly, “What would I do if I truly believed I could handle this?” Because sometimes, stress isn’t the problem. It’s the belief underneath it.

Alexis

Exactly. And when you shift that belief… you shift everything. It’s not always easy, but the freedom that comes with it? Worth every step.

Max

Thanks for spending this time with us. If today’s reflection resonated, share it with someone who might need that same reminder: *Peace might just be one belief away.*

Alexis

We’ll be back soon with more journal entries and honest conversations—right here on *Gratitude Reflections.*

Max

Until then, be kind to yourself—and stay curious about your thoughts......