April is when everything begins to bloom.
And yet, it’s also Stress Awareness Month—a perfect time to explore how a simple, science-backed stress reset can bring emotional clarity and calm when life feels overwhelming.
Established in 1992 by the Health Resource Network (HRN), Stress Awareness Month has been globally recognized as a time to reflect on the causes, consequences, and treatments of stress. From Europe to the Americas, the movement highlights how universal stress is in our daily lives. And if there was ever a year to pay attention—it’s this one.
The past four weeks—spilling from the end of March into April—didn’t feel like blossoming. They felt like survival.
Our family took turns being sick. Our toddler had chickenpox. The creative projects I usually pour myself into—our book, our upcoming event in London, the stories I’ve been longing to share—had to wait. And for a moment, I recognized a familiar pattern—one that, in the past, might have led to quitting.
But what I’ve come to learn is this:
Stress is not always the enemy.
The key is knowing the difference between the stress that drives us forward—and the kind that quietly depletes us.
Understanding Stress: The Two Faces
A powerful stress reset starts with recognizing the nature of stress. Stress is our body’s natural response to challenge. But not all stress is created equal. According to emotional regulation and psychological research, stress generally falls into two categories:
Eustress: The Positive Side of Stress
Eustress is what we feel when a situation is stimulating, purposeful, and within our range of control. Think of the thrill before a presentation, the push of a tight but exciting deadline, or even the butterflies before launching something meaningful. It enhances focus, performance, and even creativity.
It’s the energy that fuels your marathon training. The nerves before a pitch that remind you that you care.
Distress: When Stress Becomes Harmful
Distress occurs when a situation feels beyond our capacity to manage. Chronic stress at work, prolonged illness in the family, financial insecurity—these create the kind of tension that wears us down over time.
Distress triggers overwhelm. It can lead to disconnection, anxiety, burnout, and—if left unchecked—depression.
That’s why building a reliable stress reset practice is essential—not just to manage stress, but to transform it.
From Burnout to Breakthrough: The Birth of the Triple R Formula
Six years ago, Pawel and I found ourselves in the middle of the streets of Portugal. We had less than 50 euros in our pockets, our bikes, a van, and a few clothes. It was a raw, humbling moment. But also—one of profound insight.
We had each other. We had resourcefulness. And we had something we’d been unknowingly crafting throughout our relationship: a way to turn distress into clarity—a mindset that mirrors the essence of overcoming fear and living authentically, as I once explored through Brancusi’s lens of resilience and truth.
The Triple R Formula™ was born from this chapter—refined over 12 years together, applied in our work, and practiced in our family.
And just recently, it proved its power again, right in the middle of a season of sickness and stress.
The Triple R Formula™: Reflect – Reset – Reframe
The Triple R Formula is our signature stress reset framework. It supports emotional clarity and helps individuals transform moments of distress into pathways of resilience.
Reflect: When life gets loud, clarity starts by pausing
This is the moment of emotional truth. The ability to stop mid-spiral and ask:
What am I feeling right now?
Where is this coming from?
What story am I telling myself?
In neuroscience, this is called affect labeling—naming emotions to tame their intensity. It activates the prefrontal cortex, helping us regulate rather than react.
Reset: Shifting one small habit
Resetting is about creating space. Changing a behaviour or routine that supports your nervous system.
For me, this meant finally prioritizing sleep.
Not treating it as optional, but as essential. Because without it, even the best nutrition, the perfect routines, the affirmations—they don’t land.
Resetting can also look like:
Asking for help
Logging off earlier
Moving your body gently, instead of skipping movement entirely
Reframe: The power of belief-shifting
This is where the story shifts.
Recently, I caught myself thinking: “I can’t do this. I’m failing as a mom and a leader.” But then I paused and reframed it:
“This is hard, not because I’m failing. But because I’m deeply invested.”
That one thought changed the way I moved through the day. It softened the edges. It helped me show up.
A Recent, Real-Life Moment: April 2025
Our toddler had chickenpox. We were sleep-deprived. Our plans got put on hold.
Reflect: Why did this happen? Because I’ve been in push-mode for years. And my body is finally asking me to slow down.
Reset: I started treating rest like the asset it truly is.
Reframe: We found deeper connection, screen-free moments, and new ways of being a family. Creation became our healing ritual. And I was reminded:
Creation is the antidote to depletion.
Why It Works
The Triple R Formula™ offers a practical stress reset by combining science and real-life tools:
Positive Psychology: Small emotional shifts can lead to upward spirals in mood and mindset.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Reflecting and reframing are core tools to disrupt negative thinking patterns.
Neuroscience of Emotion: Labeling and resetting helps calm the brain’s stress response.
This isn’t just a method. It’s a muscle we build—together.
What’s Next?
The upcoming 1% Happier Me Today Workbook is rooted in this very framework. It offers daily practices, reflective prompts, and actionable habits that help you shift from autopilot to alignment—supporting you with a reliable stress reset for everyday life.
And if you want to experience this LIVE…
We’re hosting a heartfelt, in-person experience in London on May 13. We’ll explore the Triple R Formula™ through real-time coaching, reflection, and connection.
If this resonates with you, we’d love to know. 💛
Leave a comment below or send a message to say “I’m interested,” and we’ll make sure you’re the first to know when the Eventbrite page goes live.
This will be an intimate gathering with limited seats—just right for deep connection and lasting tools.
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