Stress isn’t the enemy.

What stresses you out? There’s probably a whole list of things.

For me, I get the most stressed when I want or need uninterrupted time to focus and my kids are around. (Like when they’re supposed to be at school, but… surprise! snow!) I can turn into a giant ball of anxiety.

But here’s the thing: Whatever is stressing you out may also be a great source of meaning.

As Kelly McGonigal says in her book The Upside of Stress, you don’t stress about things you don’t care about. In my case, I care about the work I need to do AND I care about being present for my kids.

You might think you’d like to get rid of all your stress, but a stress-free life is a BORING life.

By all means, if you’re stretched too thin, reduce the claims on your time and energy. That’s one way to deal with stress and it’s a good one! Certain types of stress, or too much stress, can harm your health.

But a meaningful life inherently includes some challenge, difficulty, and stress. That’s a good thing. Fulfillment doesn’t come cheap.

Remind yourself why you care. It will change your relationship with stress and the way you experience it. It will also change the way you communicate and relate to others. When you’re stressed, it affects all your interactions. When you focus on your underlying values, that changes how you come across.

Stress means you care. Embrace it!

Change your communication, change your life.

I’m Rachel Beohm, a writer, speaker, and coach. Through nonverbal communication, I empower clients to show up as their biggest, boldest selves.

If you’d like tips on how to do that yourself, sign up here for “21 Days to Build a Better Life.” It’s a FREE 3-week email coaching program that I wrote to help you change your communication and your life.