Which statement illustrates McGonigal's view that stress can be turned into energy to meet challenges?

Which statement illustrates McGonigal's view that stress can be turned into energy to meet challenges?

• A. Stress is harmful in all situations.
• B. Stress can be turned into energy that helps you meet challenges.
• C. Stress has no effect on motivation.
• D. Stress should always be avoided.

Answer: (B)

McGonigal emphasizes that how we interpret stress changes what it does to us. When you view the body's stress response as a cue that you’re primed to tackle a challenge, the arousal you feel can become usable energy for action—helping you focus, solve problems, and persevere. The statement that stress can be turned into energy that helps you meet challenges directly reflects this idea, because it names stress as a resource you can mobilize rather than something inherently harmful. This reframing matters because it shifts motivation and behavior: you engage with the task, reach out for support if needed, and take steps to respond effectively. The other statements imply stress is always bad, useless for motivation, or something to avoid, which runs counter to the notion that you can harness stress to rise to the occasion.

McGonigal emphasizes that how we interpret stress changes what it does to us. When you view the body's stress response as a cue that you’re primed to tackle a challenge, the arousal you feel can become usable energy for action—helping you focus, solve problems, and persevere. The statement that stress can be turned into energy that helps you meet challenges directly reflects this idea, because it names stress as a resource you can mobilize rather than something inherently harmful.

This reframing matters because it shifts motivation and behavior: you engage with the task, reach out for support if needed, and take steps to respond effectively. The other statements imply stress is always bad, useless for motivation, or something to avoid, which runs counter to the notion that you can harness stress to rise to the occasion.