Jeff Krasno - Good Stress: The Power of Purposeful Discomfort
Feb 17, 2025
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Jeff Krasno, entrepreneur and wellness pioneer, takes listeners on a transformative journey from leading Wanderlust to confronting his health crisis. He discusses the concept of 'good stress' and how embracing discomfort can enhance resilience and wellbeing. With insights from evolutionary biology, he promotes rewilding and connecting with nature. Krasno also delves into the intersection of physical health and spirituality, exploring humanity's connection to the cosmos and challenging perceptions of mortality.
Jeff Krasno emphasizes the transformative concept of 'good stress' as a beneficial force for promoting resilience and personal growth.
The necessity of reintroducing discomfort into our lives is highlighted as a method to counteract chronic diseases stemming from modern convenience.
Reconnecting with nature and acknowledging mortality fosters a profound appreciation for life, deepening our sense of purpose and well-being.
Deep dives
The Power of Good Stress
Good stress, or eustress, refers to the beneficial type of stress that can promote health and personal growth. It is characterized by short bursts of challenging situations that can lead to greater resilience and motivation. This concept is rooted in the idea of hormesis, suggesting that exposure to controlled stressors can lead to improved health outcomes, such as enhanced cognitive function and physical performance. By creating an environment that embraces evolutionary-aligned challenges, individuals can counteract the effects of chronic stress and foster well-being at multiple levels.
Addressing Modern Comfort and Resilience
Modern comfort, which often prioritizes convenience, is identified as a significant factor undermining natural resilience. This overemphasis on comfort has contributed to a rise in chronic diseases, including obesity and diabetes, as people adapt to sedentary lifestyles removed from the challenges faced by our ancestors. The discussion emphasizes the need to reintroduce discomfort into our lives to strengthen our adaptability and health. By engaging in activities that promote endurance and physical challenges, individuals can become more resilient and improve their overall well-being.
The Importance of Rewilding
Rewilding emphasizes returning to a more natural state of living by reconnecting with the environment and ancestral practices. It advocates spending more time outdoors to restore our physiological and psychological balance, as many health issues arise from a lack of exposure to nature. This reconnecting can take various forms, such as practicing natural movement, reducing reliance on modern conveniences and technology, and embracing physical challenges. By cultivating a deeper connection to nature, individuals can improve their mental clarity and reduce stress, ultimately enhancing their quality of life.
Finding Space Between Stimulus and Response
The ability to create space between stimulus and response is crucial for developing emotional regulation and reducing reactivity in daily life. This practice allows individuals to examine their reactions and choose responses that align with their values, promoting a more intentional way of living. Engaging in techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, and other contemplative practices can foster this sense of space. By consistently applying this skill, individuals can enhance their relationships and navigate life's challenges with greater ease.
The Interconnection of Life and Mortality
An exploration of death and mortality reveals that they are integral aspects of life, rather than topics to fear. Embracing mortality can lead to a deeper appreciation for living, motivating individuals to pursue meaningful experiences. The notion of interconnectedness with nature and all living beings emphasizes that every life and experience are part of a greater cycle. By reframing our relationship with death and recognizing its inevitability, we can cultivate a sense of gratitude for the present moment and enhance our overall well-being.
Jeff shares his transformative journey from leading Wanderlust to confronting his own health crisis, which led to profound insights about stress, healing, and human potential. He discusses his new book "Good Stress," exploring how embracing evolutionary-aligned challenges can enhance our wellbeing. Jeff offers a unique perspective on rewilding our lives, the intersection of physical and spiritual health, and finding freedom from the fear of death through understanding our deep connection to nature and the cosmos.
Jeff Krasno is the co-founder and CEO of Commune, a masterclass platform for personal and societal well-being and co-creator of Wanderlust, a global series of wellness events. He hosts the Commune podcast, interviewing a wide variety of luminaries from Deepak Chopra and Marianne Williamson to Matthew McConaughey and Gabor Maté.
His latest venture expands Jeff’s personal story and protocols into a book, "Good Stress: The Benefits of Doing Hard Things" (Hay House, March 2025). The book dives deeper into the concepts from the course, distilling insights from over 400 podcast conversations Jeff has conducted, along with his personal experiences applying these ideas to transform his own health. It explores deliberate, self-imposed behaviors that promote social, psychological, and physical well-being, offering both a philosophical exploration of true wellness and practical steps to achieve it.
Highlights:
Jeff's personal health crisis and transformation from Wanderlust CEO to wellness advocate
The concept of "good stress" and its role in human evolution and adaptation
Understanding rewilding as a path to physical and psychological health
The intersection of physical practices and spiritual development
How modern comfort may be undermining our natural resilience
The importance of reconnecting with ancestral movement patterns
Reframing our relationship with death and mortality
The unity of physical and metaphysical in human experience
