When “Good” Change Still Feels Stressful

Stress is a reaction to change — any change — even the good ones.

In Chapter Six of my book, I talk about the growth of my relationship with my husband and how, surprisingly, consistency scared me. It wasn’t the chaos or uncertainty that made me anxious — it was the steadiness. The showing up. Every day. When someone consistently shows up for you, it forces you to slow down, trust, and receive — which can be its own form of vulnerability.

We often think of stress as something that only comes from negative experiences — a tough workday, financial worries, or conflict. But our bodies don’t label change as “good” or “bad.” They simply respond. That response is communication. It’s your body saying, Hey, something’s shifting. Can you slow down for a second so we can catch up?

When we brought Mopsey home, I had that reaction again. This sweet, gentle puppy was a blessing — we rescued her, and in many ways, she rescued us. But my body still reacted. My schedule was going to change. I was going to have to learn to train her, care for her, and make space for her. Beneath all of that was a deeper layer of emotion — a reminder of my pug, Butch, who we had loved and lost (see Chapter Nine).

That’s the thing about stress: it’s not always about what’s happening now. Sometimes it’s about what’s being reminded now.

So this month, I want to challenge you to pause when you notice yourself reacting. Take a breath. Ask yourself:

👉 Why is my body reacting right now?
👉 What emotion might be underneath this?
👉 What can I do about it — right here, in this moment?

You don’t have to “fix” everything right away. Just slowing down and listening is enough to start easing the tension.

Because sometimes, stress isn’t your enemy — it’s your body’s way of asking for attention, compassion, and care.