Why is stress necessary?

Because it helps you to grow and get stronger.

Seedlings grown in a greenhouse need to be gradually exposed to the elements (stressors) to allow them to become strong and be able to survive on their own.  If a plant has lived all it's life protected in a greenhouse with no wind, no direct sunlight, water and food at the same time every day, it never needs to grow strong.  If this plant was then taken outside it would most likely break in the wind, burn in the sun or wilt and die from lack of water. (It has also been shown they have less of the amazing healing and anti-ageing chemicals like resveratrol hence why many super foods come from places like the himalayas and have less potency when grown commercially and in less extreme environments). 

In so many ways, we are like this.  If we are regularly exposed to new or greater stressors we grow stronger and are better able to adapt and cope with new and bigger things.  If however we never allow ourselves to step outside our comfort zones, never try new things, never get dirty or taste different foods our body and mind may be weak and unable to adapt when necessary.    Our immune system for one if not exposed to dirt, bugs and a variety of foods may never develop the ability to respond strongly when a really dangerous virus or bug attacks.

What can you do this week or this month to stretch yourself just a little and grow marginally stronger in one aspect of your life?  When life throws the big stresses at you that are unavoidable - will you be strong and well prepared or will it break you?  The key is GRADUAL exposure!