Noticing stress more might be a good sign

Photo: Duc Nguyen on Unsplash

Have you ever started something good for you, like spending a few minutes meditating each morning, and then felt like you were noticing stress more?

One small study, published Oct 28 in Psychosomatic Medicine, may speak to that. Researchers gave 81 young adults who'd had hard childhoods either two weeks of remote mindfulness training or a coping-skills program.

Afterward, the mindfulness group reported feeling more stressed. But in stressful moments, their heart rates were lower than the other group's, and they reported fewer stressful events. That extra stress feeling was weaker a month later. The researchers suggest the practice may have helped people notice stress rather than avoid it.

It's just one study of a specific group, so it can't tell us what happens for everyone. But I find it encouraging. Feeling things more clearly may not mean you're doing it wrong.

Something to try this week: when you notice stress, say your name and name it: "[Your name], this is stressful." Then take one slow mindful breath.

If you'd like to go deeper, my book Built This Way: Why Painful Patterns Repeat and How to Change Them is on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX91KTBP/

This book carries careful words of love and wisdom.

— Emma Lucas, Amazon review, October 26, 2026.

Thank you for being part of this community.

Wishing you abundant health, happiness, and prosperity,
Mark