The higher a nation’s stress index, the greater its GDP and life expectancy, the more satisfied people are with their lives, their work, their communities, their own health, the happier they are.
Basically, the more people you have who thought yesterday was very stressful, that’s better for public health, it’s better for the economy, it’s better any way you look at it.
It kind of blew the researchers minds.
It is not what they or we would be expecting.
When they dug in a little deeper, it made more sense.
Stress was a barometer for pushing people toward the things that ultimately made them productive & happy.
✔ A tough project at work brings stress, but also a sense of accomplishment when it’s finished.
✔ Raising kids is stressful, but being a parent brings meaning.
✔ Stress focuses your attention in ways good times can’t.
✔ It kills procrastination and indecision, taking what you need to get done and shoving it so close to your face that you have no choice but pursue it, right now and to the best of your ability.