29. I Heal My Own Body : Nurturing the Mind : Good Stress vs. Bad Stress

When a stimulus affects us, and our mind and body respond, we say we are “under stress.” Depending on how we perceive that stimulus, the stress can be positive or negative.

Perfectionists or highly sensitive individuals tend to interpret the same stimuli negatively, turning it into harmful stress. Some smile at a glass of whiskey still half-full, while others sigh, lamenting it’s already half gone. Such reactions stem from one’s life experiences and habitual ways of thinking.

If we were to erase from ourselves a few key memories and the seven core emotions (joy, anger, worry, thought, sorrow, fear, shock), would there be anything left to say about who we are? Would we still cling to our identity or strive greedily to preserve it?

There is no day without night. Only those who have experienced hunger understand the value of food, and only those who have suffered pain can truly appreciate health. Laozi, in the Tao Te Ching, presents the universal principle of mutual generation through opposition—this is the theory of Yin and Yang.

All phenomena arise from contrasts between opposites—they are not the essence itself. If we become entangled in appearances, we may lose sight of the essence and feel burdened by life. Whether positive or negative, phenomena are merely the motifs of life.

The essence lies in the quiet depths of our being—peace, compassion, and a gentle smile. Deep and slow breathing guides us toward that essence. When something or someone becomes too overwhelming, step away and take a long, deep breath.

Dr. Jin-man Kim, director of Peace Oriental Clinic