There Is No Such Thing As A Stress Germ
Stress. It’s sneaky, isn’t it?
One moment, you’re sipping coffee and tackling emails like a superhero, and the next, you’re spiraling because your boss added “just one more thing” to your already-packed day. It feels like stress is this contagious force you catch from demanding schedules, cranky toddlers, or relentless bills.
But here’s the good news: stress germs don’t exist.
You can’t catch stress from your job, your partner, or that random guy who cut you off in traffic. It’s not like these situations carry little stress bacteria, waiting to invade your peace. Yet, we believe they do, living as though external things hold the power to make or break our calm. This misunderstanding about stress—that it works from the outside in—is the root of the problem.
The truth is far simpler: stress doesn’t happen to you; it happens in you.
Think about it. Two people are waiting in a ridiculously long coffee shop line. One chuckles, pulls out their phone, and uses the time to catch up on memes. The other huffs, checks their watch every 30 seconds, and imagines all the ways their day is now “ruined.” Same line, same wait, totally different experiences. Why? Because stress isn’t in the line—it’s in the thinking about the line.
When you see that stress is an inside job, life feels lighter.
You stop trying to fix or avoid the so-called “stress carriers” in your world. Instead, you notice how your experience shifts with your thoughts. It’s like realizing the monster under the bed was just a shadow. The scary illusion dissolves.
So, next time life feels overwhelming, remind yourself: there’s no such thing as a stress germ. Your mind might be dramatic, but peace is always closer than you think. Take a breath and let the thought storm pass.