Better Nutrition September2020

ashwagandha. Two examples: Garden of
Life Dr. Formulated CBD Stress Relief
Liquid Drops and PlusCBD Sprays.
4Develop The 3 C’s of
Psychological Hardiness
The topics covered so far—avoiding
stressful substances, eating a bloodsugar-balancing
diet, and using nutrient
supplements and other natural
remedies—are all ways to enhance
the physical condition of the body. Total
health depends on other factors that
are mental, emotional, and spiritual in
nature. Although stress from any source
affects the body, it’s not enough to be
physically strong. Research shows that
to be truly resistant to stress, it’s also
important to be psychologically hardy.
We owe much of our understanding
of psychological hardiness to psychologist
Suzanne Kobasa, PhD, who developed
the concept almost four decades ago.
Although high stress was generally
regarded as leading to a high risk of
illness, Kobasa conducted numerous
studies in the late 1970s and early 1980s
that showed this wasn’t always true.
Some people did succumb to the negative
effects of stress with a much higher
incidence of illness, but others experienced
equal amounts of stress and remained
quite healthy. Kobasa found that those
who avoided illness had a different way
of dealing with stressful events than
the subjects in her studies who became
sick. She identified the following three
characteristics—what she called the
“three Cs” of psychological hardiness—
that kept people well even when they
were under great stress. They are:
Commitment—People with hardy
personalities have a deep commitment
to their work and personal relationships,
which they say gives them “meaning,
direction, and excitement.” Such
involvement supports them in solving their
problems without letting stress disrupt
their goals—and they have dedication to
a task and the belief that is achievable.
Control—They feel they can control
problems either through their actions
or through their attitude toward those
events. They recognize what is beyond
their control, and they don’t waste effort
and angst trying to control those things.
Challenge—They see stress or change
as an inevitable part of life and more of
a challenge or opportunity for growth
than a threat. They aren’t frightened of
change, but are willing to work through
difficult circumstances and even look
forward to the chance to think creatively
to solve problems.
In study after study, Kobasa found
that individuals who possessed the
three personality characteristics of
commitment, control, and challenge
remained in good health even when
exposed to high levels of stress. In one
study that tracked the health of 259
executives over five years, Kobasa found
that managers who possessed high
levels of the “three Cs” had half the
incidence of illness of those who didn’t.
In the end, keep reminding yourself
that stress hardiness isn’t the avoidance
of stress. It’s a positive response
to stress and the ability to minimize
its negative effects. Just as germs don’t
always make us sick if we have strong
immune systems, stress is far less likely
to make us ill if we learn the secrets of
how to make ourselves stress-hardy.
Photo: adobestock.com
30 • SEPTEMBER 2020