"Reframe stress as growth to cut arousal Eric Garland explains that when a stressor hits, the brain auto-generates a threat appraisal within seconds, triggering the full fight-or-flight cascade — elevated cortisol, muscle tension, and amplified pain — before the conscious mind has a chance to intervene. Reappraisal interrupts this by asking questions like "How is facing this adversity bringing a sense of meaning to my life?" and "What's the proof that my thoughts about this situation are true?" His lab has measured that trained reappraisal literally drops skin conductance responses — the same sweat-based measure used in lie detector tests — demonstrating that reframing a challenge as a growth opportunity produces real, measurable reductions in sympathetic nervous system activation, not just a subjective feeling of calm. Source: Eric Garland, Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris, MORE Protocol Episode"