Common misconceptions exist regarding how stress impacts health.
Animal studies indicate that voluntary exercise is beneficial, while forced exercise has negative effects on health metrics.
Example study: Rats on a treadmill vs. rats forced to run.
Voluntary exercise leads to improvements in:
Resting heart rate
Blood pressure
Blood glucose levels
The Impact of Mindset on Stress
Research by Dr. Ali Crum at Stanford highlights how mindset affects health:
Watching content about stress diminishing health leads to negative health outcomes.
Conversely, learning how stress can enhance performance leads to increased well-being.
The Boston Marathon bombing study showed that those exposed to more news coverage experienced a greater stress response than those present during the event.
Willpower and Tenacity
Willpower is often thought to be a limited resource:
Early theories of ego depletion suggested it diminishes with use.
Carol Dweck's research indicates that beliefs about willpower influence its effectiveness.
If individuals believe willpower is unlimited, they can perform better; belief can create a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The Anterior Midcingulate Cortex (AMCC)
The AMCC is crucial for tenacity and willpower.
Stimulation of the AMCC can enhance the feeling of readiness to meet challenges.
Key findings on AMCC function:
Individuals resisting temptations show increased AMCC size and activity.
Aging individuals who engage in challenging tasks can maintain or increase AMCC size.
The AMCC is linked to overall will to live and can drive persistence in various challenges.
Micro Sucks and Macro Sucks
Engaging in small, uncomfortable tasks (micro sucks) can enhance willpower and tenacity.
Examples of micro sucks:
Cleaning difficult dishes
Addressing overwhelming email inboxes
Engaging in tasks that are challenging but not harmful strengthens the AMCC and boosts resilience.
Emphasizes the value of pushing slightly beyond comfort zones ("go one more").
Conclusion
Understanding the role of mindset and brain structures like the AMCC can help in cultivating better stress management and resilience.
The importance of addressing micro and macro sucks in daily life to enhance overall tenacity and willpower.