Eustress

QUOTE

William Arthur Ward once said…

“Adversity causes some to break; others to break records.”

(American writer.)

CONCEPT

Eustress

Eustress is a positive type of stress that motivates and energizes, pushing us to perform at our best. It’s the kind of stress that sharpens our focus, increases our resilience, and gives us a sense of accomplishment.

Eustress is essential for personal growth because it helps us push beyond our comfort zone while still maintaining a healthy balance.

STORY

Motivational … Mountain?

In 1953, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa guide, Tenzing Norgay, stood at the base of Mount Everest, the world’s tallest peak. For decades, climbers had tried—and failed—to reach its summit, succumbing to the deadly combination of freezing temperatures, treacherous terrain, and dangerously thin air at extreme altitudes.

The challenge was so immense that many believed it might never be conquered.

For Hillary and Norgay, the task was daunting. They were up against the same harsh conditions that had thwarted climbers before them. The stress of knowing that one misstep could mean certain death was ever-present. However, for these two men, the intensity of the challenge wasn’t demotivating—it was energizing.

Hillary later described how, despite the overwhelming danger, the challenge excited him.

Each step toward the summit filled him with a deep sense of purpose and motivation. The physical and mental demands required intense focus, but rather than letting stress wear them down, Hillary and Norgay channeled it into sharper decision-making and determination.

After days of climbing in extreme conditions, the pair made a final attempt on May 29, 1953.

The final leg was grueling, with treacherous ice fields and sheer cliffs standing in their way. But the stress of the situation seemed to fuel their resilience. After hours of effort, they reached the summit of Mount Everest, becoming the first people in history to stand on top of the world.

The triumph of Hillary and Norgay wasn’t just about physical endurance. It was also about their ability to convert overwhelming stress into a force that drove them toward their goal. The immense pressure and life-threatening conditions could have caused fear or paralysis, but instead, they used the stress as a motivating factor to achieve the impossible.