Most of us know that too much stress can create problems, but did you know there is a kind of stress that is good for you? That is hard to believe, isn't it? Let's look a little closer into this "good stress."
 
All of us have comfort zones. A comfort zone is just a term used to describe the physical or psychological area in which we feel comfortable and at ease. When we move away from the familiar to the new and different, we are moving out of our comfort zone. 
 
If the move is not something we choose to do or are not ready for, we feel anxiety and stress. If you have ever walked into the wrong rest room or been forced to speak in public, you understand anxiety and stress! It didn't take long for you to get back to where you think you belong. 
 
For most of life, the higher your self-esteem, the broader your comfort zone - and the easier it is for you to deal with unfamiliar situations and new challenges. You see, when you raise your self-esteem, you automatically expand your comfort zone. It works the other way around, too. 
 
If you use techniques like affirmation and visualization to mentally take yourself out of your comfort zone safely, when it is time to deal with the real thing, instead of anxiety you will feel excitement - a good kind of stress - and you will be giving your self-esteem a boost. 
 
Most likely, you still won't feel good about walking into the wrong rest room, but you will be able to handle change more easily and deal with new situations without becoming anxious.