Big Think
Harvard’s stress expert on how to be more resilient | Dr. Aditi Nerurkar
May 12, 2025
Dr. Aditi Nerurkar, a Harvard physician and author of The Five Resets, dives into the nuances of stress and resilience. She highlights that stress is a natural part of life, not a personal flaw. Aditi shares her journey from burnout to understanding that true resilience is about honoring one’s limits. She offers practical strategies like mindfulness breathing and gratitude journaling to help rewire our brains for a healthier response to stress. The discussion emphasizes that managing stress is a learnable skill, essential for thriving in a chaotic world.
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Quick takeaways
- Dr. Aditi Nerurkar emphasizes that real resilience involves honoring one's limits rather than merely showcasing strength against stress.
- Effective stress management techniques like breathing exercises and gratitude journaling can significantly help rewire our brain's response to stress.
Deep dives
Understanding Stress and Burnout
Stress is an inevitable part of life, yet societal perceptions often stigmatize its expression, leading people to feel isolated in their struggles. Many individuals experience stress in silence, as illustrated by a clinician's observation of patients who would cry in private after appearing composed in public settings. The notion that life should be devoid of stress is misaligned with human biology, as the goal is not to eliminate stress, but to manage it effectively. Embracing a sense of self-compassion and acknowledging one’s limitations allows individuals to redefine their relationship with stress, shifting from a perspective of failure to one of resilience.
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