Dr. Stephen Lesavich
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Stress is your mind and body’s response to the demands, challenges, uncertainties, and pressures of life, influenced by both the circumstances we encounter and how you perceive our ability to respond to them.
People are increasingly interested in practical ways to manage stress, establish personal boundaries, reduce mental overload, and find a renewed sense of purpose.
Stress typically reflects a mismatch between a person’s life arcs values, expectations, commitments, and current circumstances.
This offers a compelling opportunity to explore self-awareness, intentional change, and moving beyond one’s comfort zone.
Recent data also underscores the relevance of stress: an October 22, 2026, American Psychological Association survey found that 72% of U.S. adults agreed that stress is something they simply have to live with.
In that American Psychological Association article, 47% of the respondents said that they have pulled back from at least one form of social engagement over the past year as a result of stress, and 49% engaged in conversations with artificial intelligence (AI) as a friend instead of a human to overcome stress.
Two types of stress
Stress can be both postive and negative.
- Eustress (positive stress): Stress that can motivate an individual, enhance performance, encourage personal growth, and support adaptation to new challenges.
- Distress (negative stress): Stress that becomes overwhelming, persistent, or difficult to manage and may negatively affect physical health, emotional well-being, and psychological functioning.
What are the three primary components of stress
1. Physical stress: The body’s physiological response to challenges, including increased heart rate, muscle tension, elevated blood pressure, and the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline.
2. Emotional stress: Feelings of anxiety, frustration, fear, uncertainty, anger, or emotional overwhelm in response to internal or external circumstances.
3. Psychological stress: Mental pressure resulting from perceived expectations, responsibilities, uncertainty, conflicting priorities, or challenges to an individual’s sense of control.
Here are three practical techniques you can use to reduce stress and regain a greater sense of balance and control.
1. Change Your Point of Observation
A change in perspective can change your response to stress.
When faced with a stressful situation, people often focus exclusively on the problem rather than considering alternative perspectives or possible solutions.
Changing your point of observation allows you to examine the same situation from a different angle.
Practical steps:
- Identify the specific situation causing your stress.
- Ask yourself, “Is there another way to view this situation?”
- Identify one positive or constructive action you can take.
Key takeaway: You may not be able to change your circumstances immediately, but changing your perspective can change how you respond to them.
2. Focus on What You Can Control
Stress often increases when you expend mental and emotional energy attempting to control things beyond your influence.
Rather than focusing on uncontrollable circumstances, redirect your attention toward decisions, behaviors, and actions within your control.
Practical steps:
- Write down three things currently causing you stress.
- Separate the things you can control from those you cannot.
- Take one immediate, constructive action involving something within your control.
Key takeaway: Stop investing your energy in what you cannot control and start directing your energy toward what you can change.
3. Create Intentional Moments of Calm
Reducing stress requires giving your mind and body opportunities to recover from the demands of everyday life.
Intentional moments of calm can help interrupt repetitive stressful thoughts, reduce physiological arousal, and restore mental clarity.
Practical steps:
- Practice slow, comfortable breathing for two to five minutes, without forcing or holding your breath.
- Take a 10-minute walk outdoors without checking your phone.
- Schedule a brief period each day where you can close your eyes and focus inward without digital distractions, obligations, or unnecessary stimulation.
Key takeaway: You do not have to eliminate every source of stress to create moments of peace in your life.
Stress management is not about creating a life without challenges. It is about developing the awareness, resilience, and practical skills necessary to respond to those challenges more effectively.
Managing stress effectively can help you create a positive impact in your own life.
Out There on the Edge of Everything®…
Stephen Lesavich, PhD
Copyright © 2026 by Stephen Lesavich, PhD. All rights reserved.
Certified solution-focused life coach and experienced business coach.
3 > 2® Coaching Tip for this post: recognize how your major and minor life arcs and boundaries limiting your response to stress, identify a constructive action to relieve stress, and deliberately move beyond your existing comfort zone, your major life arc.
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