If you saw the Loki series, you swatched stress change from distress to eustress in the final minutes of episode six. The title character sat in a room, alone, copletely quiet. We watched his face, saw the thoughts runing through his head before he ererged, an entirely different person.
Think about it. Generations ago, life was utterly predictable and time pretty much stood still. Generation followed generation along identical lives, their paths determined by where they were born, their gender, and who their parents were. Parents, children and grandchildren, life remained the same and highly predictable (even when it wasn’t enjoyable) day after day, from birth to death.
Change brings stress. That may sound awful, but remember, stress is not always a bad thing. When we consider change as a threat, it can lead to distress, when we feel the demands of our environment are too taxing. Distress defines an overwhelming feeling that impairs our ability to function.
But sometimes stress provides a motive to engage in action. Eustress describes positive, motivating stress that can enhance life. When we welcome change, it can be invigorating.
Change is natural. Eustress is a choice for dealing with the stresses associated with change.
In the old days of unchanging monotony, stories - myths, legends, fables and fairy tales - were all about plot and situations meant to entertain people. Farmer Jack could change his destiny by planting a few beans and climbing a beanstalk into the sky. Characters traversed physical plots with little or no character development.
As a 21st century storyteller, I feel an obligation to show my readers the changes my characters go through. I concentrate on my character’s emotional arcs, on the story. Today, it takes more to break through the noise bombarding readers. Plot, the efforts characters make to overcome a problem, entertain people. Story, a character moving through an emotional arc, both entertains people and helps teach what it means to be human.
That’s why my writing always begins with a character and their flaw. Before I wrote the first word of Courage (2019 from Harper Children’s) I knew T’Shawn’s fears about being emotionally hurt by his prodigal son brother was his flaw.
Change brings stress. That may sound awful, but remember, stress is not always a bad thing. When we consider change as a threat, it can lead to distress, when we feel the demands of our environment are too taxing. Distress defines an overwhelming feeling that impairs our ability to function.
But sometimes stress provides a motive to engage in action. Eustress describes positive, motivating stress that can enhance life. When we welcome change, it can be invigorating.
Change is natural. Eustress is a choice for dealing with the stresses associated with change.
In the 21st century, change is a daily activity and our lives are no longer defined by the circumstances of our births. Noise surrounds us, the press of news, social media,(no those two are not interchangeable), conversation. All this separates people from the moments of quiet, solitary self-contemplation that helps them channel eustress and positive actions.
In the old days of unchanging monotony, stories - myths, legends, fables and fairy tales - were all about plot and situations meant to entertain people. Farmer Jack could change his destiny by planting a few beans and climbing a beanstalk into the sky. Characters traversed physical plots with little or no character development.
As a 21st century storyteller, I feel an obligation to show my readers the changes my characters go through. I concentrate on my character’s emotional arcs, on the story. Today, it takes more to break through the noise bombarding readers. Plot, the efforts characters make to overcome a problem, entertain people. Story, a character moving through an emotional arc, both entertains people and helps teach what it means to be human.
T'Shawn's emotional arc involved a struggle to regain the ability to trust. He moves back and forth between distress and eustress on the pages, taking readers along with him.
Philosophers have long said that human beings are the only living creatures that can change themselves by doing absolutely nothing, at least, outwardly. So my job was to let readers in on my heroes inner actions and thought processes. Although young T'Shawn never actually sits alone in a room using only his brain, he fulfills my goals for him. He both entertains readers and teaches them more about themselves.
I hope I contribute to someone learning how to handle change better.
Courage is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Barbara-Binns/dp/0062561650
7 comments:
Learning how to move from destress to eustress is more important than ever these days and there is more than one way to achieve this. So glad you are using your amazing books as a teaching platform for young minds.
Barbara, We have all heard over the years that not all stress is bad, and here, you have clarified that. I enjoyed reading this post and I am sure I will find myself using the word EUSTRESS more often.
Great post, Barbara. Your character arcs are a perfect example of stories (versus plots).
As always, your post gives me food for thought, Barbara. Thank you!
Thank yiou all for your kind words. I have long known that I like a certain level of stress in my life, I don't like things too easy. Before I retired, I used to tell my boss that I was at my best when I felt like 2 more assignments would overwhelm me. That feeing gave mejust enough of a buffer. With my first book, my critique partner and I gaveeach other deadlines. I always had to have something for her to seeevery two weeks. That gave me an extra umph to get finished with Pull (2009) I need deadlines and a push.
I was happy the day I found a word for the feeling of energy the right level of stress gives me.
I have heard this term Eustress but must admit it is hard to corner in real life. However, it does come out of time for contemplation or that moment when I've finally found a path and can move forward again.
Your books are wonderful for young readers because they are stories that draw them in, provide a chance to empathize with your characters, and to come away having learned something they can use in their own life. That us a gift and children who read your work are fortunate to partake in that gift you offer.
I know you've been working on a new book. Is it getting closer to release?
Maggie, the new book is calle Unlawful Orders,and will be released by Scholastic in 2022. Its the non-fiction story of a man named James Buchanan Williams, who was born in Texas, raised in New Mexico, and educated in a seregated school.
He went on to become a Tuskegee Airmanin WWII where he participated in the Freeman Field mutiny, and then a surgeon in Chicago wherehe racked up numerous firsts along with his two brothers who also became doctors (they had a remarkable mother). He lived in the Hyde Park neighborhood and operated a clinicon Chicago's south side.
That means I grew up close to him, and never knew of his existance until a few years ago. So, I, wrote Unlawful Orders for the kid I used to be, who could have used a story about a hometown hero.
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