What My Fish Taught Me About Stress

A few years ago, we upgraded to a 75-gallon fish tank. It was beautiful — a calming centerpiece in the room. But over time, something unexpected happened: the tank’s seal broke, and it started leaking.

If you’ve ever dealt with a leaky fish tank, you know it’s a whole situation. But what really stuck with me wasn’t the water damage — it was how our fish reacted.

I shared this story during a recent networking call, and someone said, “You should write about that.”
So, here we are.

The Fish Turned White

Yes — white. Almost instantly after the leak started, our fish changed color. It was a clear, visible sign of stress. Their environment shifted, and their bodies responded in real time.

Watching this happen got me thinking:
When fish are stressed, it shows.
But when we are stressed? We usually miss it — or worse, we ignore it.

How Stress Shows Up in Humans

Unlike fish, our stress signals aren’t always as obvious. But they’re there.

Headaches.
Eye twitching.
Stomach issues.
Irritability.
Tight shoulders.
Fatigue.

We experience physical symptoms all the time — and often dismiss them as “normal” or “just part of life.” But they’re actually signals. Our bodies are trying to get our attention, just like the fish did.

Today’s Challenge

Take a few minutes today to check in with your body.

Write down all the ways your body tries to tell you it's stressed.
Need a little extra credit? Try breaking it down into categories:

• At work

• At home

• In relationships

You might notice that your stress shows up differently depending on the situation — and that’s powerful information to have.