MARA SCHIAVOCAMPO: Stress, a common response to life's troubles. One survey finding one in two Americans reported feeling stressed in the past year. But what if there was a way to turn life's stresses into strengths?
KELLY MCGONIGAL: How you think about stress matters.
MARA SCHIAVOCAMPO: Stanford researcher, and author of The Upside of Stress, Kelly McGonigal says that you can actually make stress work in your favor; making you smarter, stronger, and happier, if you learn to think about it the right way.
It's really about a mindset shift.
KELLU MCGONIGAL: You don't necessarily have to embrace the situation that's stressful, but you can embrace your capacity to rise to the challenge.
MARA SCHIAVOCAMPO: McGonigal, pointing to a Harvard study, finding subjects who were told stressful feelings were beneficial before being put through a stressful public speaking exercise experienced fewer negative cardiovascular or physical effects. Now, McGonigal is teaching others just how to put that into practice.
KELLY MCGONIGAL: So tell me a little bit about the stress in your life.
MARA SCHIAVOCAMPO: Like Laura Murray, a wife and mom of two young children. She's no stranger to life's stresses.
LAURA MURRAY: We start really early in the morning and are constantly running, and stress is just always there.
MARA SCHIAVOCAMPO: McGonigal says, first, look at the symptoms of stress, like a pounding heart, as empowering. Next, channel your energy by asking yourself, what specific actions you can take to respond. And third, use stress as an opportunity to bond with others, either by sharing your troubles or helping them through theirs.
KELLY MCGONIGAL: Stress is basically a signal that something that you care about is at stake. Whatever you're feeling, even if it doesn't feel great, it's your brain and your body trying to help you.
MARA SCHIAVOCAMPO: Finding an upside to life's downers. For Good Morning America, Mara Schiavocampo, ABC News, New York.