Stress is not always harmful, and in many cases it makes us stronger, smarter, and happier. It can even inspire compassion and enhance empathy. Rather than trying to escape, avoid, or reduce stress, embracing it may be the key to well-being.

                                                  - Kelly McGonigal

So often when we hear the word stress, we think that stress is the enemy of everything good; that stress is something to be avoided, managed, suppressed and reduced in order for us to be happy. No wonder we feel burnt out or exhausted all the time. Because we can't escape stress.

Many times in efforts to make ourselves happier, we start by turning in the opposite direction. "Let's run from the source of suffering, and chase what we believe is the opposite!" - It's quite fascinating how much the contrary is true.

When we turn towards the suffering and engage it in a way that brings forward acceptance, cultivates strength and inspires willingness, we can transform our suffering into a life filled with deeper meaning and well being. 
 

''Dont Turn your gaze, Keep your eye on the bandage, that is where the light comes in.''      -  Rumi

8. Quit 1x a week
( The Better Life: Claire Diaz-Ortiz)

The idea of course is that we're all doing things we don't need to be doing. Things that zap our energy and passion and crowd our lives so much that we can't do the amazing thing we should be putting all our passions into. 

There's a problem with this life, and it has to do with having so many shiny choices around us that it's easy to fill up our lives with things that aren't essential. Things that don't move us toward our goals, things that don't lead our families to love, and things that don't carry our hearts to happiness.

There are always more books to read, and dinner parties to host, and TED talks to watch, and small groups to start, and playdates to set up. And Every day, we add more of these things to our already overflowing lives. But as our plates get fuller, we lose track of where we're going and what is really important. 

The concept is that every week you choose one thing you can stop doing, one thing that by stopping will bring you closer to who you really are and what you are really meant to be doing. It can be a big thing or a small thing. An easy thing to quit, or a very hard thing to let go of. 

Sometimes it can be hard to think of things you need to quit. Remember to go with your gut, and try not to overthink or second guess yourself. Often when it comes to quit 1x a week and life in general - Your first instinct is your best instinct.

9. Setbacks, Adversities, Stress
(The Art of Work: Jeff Goins)

Unexpected things will happen, setbacks do occur. We often look at successful people, hearing their stories of failure, and think that they succeeded despite the fact that they failed. But thats not true, successful people and organizations don't succeed in spite of failure; they succeed because of it.

Every calling encounters setbacks, and sometimes people don't want what you have to offer, or maybe they just don't understand it. Other times, life throws a curveball or the passion you once had wanes. At times like these, we are inclined to give up, but these are the moments that require our most intentional action.

(The Upside of Stress: Kelly McGonigal)

10. Fear
(The Crossroads of Should And Must: Elle Luna)

Choosing Must means that you have to confront some very big fears. It will make you feel vulnerable.

You might find yourself wondering if people you love will leave, if places will no longer feel the same, or if you will be all alone. You might ask what it's all for. Some obscure dream? 

List down your fears, write them down. Because often, fears in our minds can be like sap - sticky and very difficult to remove. But fears on paper? Tangible. Visible. Cross-out-able.

Line by line, walk yourself through each of your fears. Examine them. Bring them into light. Is this fear a realistic one? Is it worth designing your life around? Or is it more of an emotional fear? Something to be mindful about as you move forward? Have a conversation with yourself about each one.

After you've gone through all of your fears, write a short note or tip next to each line listing one thing - just one - that you can do to loosen that fear's grip on your life. Get to know these fears intimately because they are invisible walls that surround you daily. Decide which ones stay and which ones gotta go.
 
(The Art of Work: Jeff Goins)

Fear. We all feel it. It's a force that afflicts even the most courageous. So what do we do about it? We lean in, realizing that failure is inevitable, but it's also not a legitimate obstacle. We can keep moving, albeit sometimes in a different direction.

This is where your story starts to matter, when you begin to make a difference with the talents and skills you've acquired. Its where ideas and action meet; where we stop dreaming and start living.

There is tension here in this place of action, and risk is inevitable. But the rewards are great. What we do with this moment will carry on for eternity. 

There is, of course, an alternative. We could opt out, becoming bitter about the whole thing. We could believe this process of pursuing a passion is farce. 

The world remains the same regardless of how great your idea is. It's when only when people take action that true transformation happens. Dont get me wrong, dreams are powerful. They are fuel for change. But by themselves, they do no good. Hanging out in coffee shops and talking about one day being a writer or an activist or an entrepreneur is just about the worst thing you can do. It feels like work, but is in fact destructive to the real work of realizing your dream.

So what do you do? Stop talking and start doing. Start something. Don't let your fears stop you.

11. Failures
(The Art of Work: Jeff Goins)

Remember practice makes perfect. Malcolm Gladwell is known for saying that 10,000 hours of practicing in any field can lead to mastery.

1. Do it many times. There are no shortcuts to escaping this most obvious and most necessary aspect of practicing to reach perfection. Do the work.
2. Do it in different ways. - We need to change our approach in order to find the best way to achieve what we want.
3. Track what works and what doesn't to get better with each and every try.

''It will take a few tries before you get your calling right. Failure isn't what prevents us from success, then. It's what leads us there.

We all face times of irrelevance; of falling on our faces and thinking we have no business doing any of this. But pain is the great teacher and failure a a faithful mentor. You can use all of this to your benefit if you are willing.

Failure is the best friend you will ever have if you learn from it. 

Repeated failure will toughen your spirit and show you with absolute clarity how things must be done.

12. Forgive
(Forgive For Good: Fred Luskin)

''Giving up all hope for a better past.'' and at least one part of forgiveness is planning the future rather than lamenting the past.

The essence of forgiveness is being resilient when things don’t go the way you want—to be at peace with “no,” be at peace with what is, be at peace with the vulnerability inherent in human life. Then you have to move forward and live your life without prejudice.

It’s the absence of prejudice that informs forgiveness. You realize that nobody owes you, that you don’t have to take the hurt you suffered and pay it forward to someone else. Just because your last partner was unkind to you doesn’t mean you always have to give your new partner the third degree. With an open heart, you move forward and accept what is, without prejudice.

You don’t just accept it because life sucks and there’s nothing you can do about it—though that may be true—but you accept it in a way that leaves you willing to give the next moment a chance.

Forgiveness is for you and not for your partner
Forgiveness is taking back your power from being wounded
Forgiveness is taking responsibility for how you feel now
Forgiveness is about healing and not about your partners action
Forgiveness is a trainable skill
Forgiveness is becoming a hero instead of victim in the story you tell about what happened
Forgiveness is a choice you make
Forgiveness is about today not yesterday
Forgiveness is making peace when you did not get what you wanted.
Forgiveness is acknowledging the hurt.

13. Well Being / Nourish
(The Better Life: Claire Diaz-Ortiz)

Each Day, do one thing that truly nourishes you. Go on a walk. Take a bubble bath. Read a novel. Talk to someone you love. Do something for you. It's fun to do this in the morning straightaway, but if not, put this off until later as a reward for getting your big tasks of the day done. 

(The Sweet Spot: Christine Carter)

14. Act of Kindness
Random acts of kindness not only lift our spirits in the moment; they also have the potential to alter the way we feel about ourselves and increase healthy forms of self-esteem. 

Research suggests that not all acts of kindness are created equal, however. Many factors can influence whether and how these acts bring us psychological benefits

Rule: It must be intentional! You can't just look back and say I did a bunch of kind things today! Pay for somebody's coffee behind you, or pay toll for the person behind you on your way to work. Leave a wonderful note for your coworker about how much you appreciate his or her work.