Stress as the Language of the Cell
A client recently shared a powerful study with me about butterflies that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about—and I believe it holds important lessons for all of us.
Researchers observed caterpillars preparing to emerge from their cocoons. Wanting to help, they carefully sliced open the cocoons to reduce the struggle of hatching. But what they found was striking: the butterflies that didn’t have to work their way out were unable to fly—and soon after, they died.
The takeaway? The stress and effort required to break free was essential for the butterfly to develop wings strong enough to support flight. Without that challenge, the transformation couldn’t fully happen.
At the same time, I was reading a research paper on how different body tissues—muscle, bone, tendon, cartilage—respond to load. Though each responds a bit differently, the core message is the same: when stress is applied in just the right dose—not too much, not too little—tissues adapt and grow stronger.
Whether in butterflies or humans, there's a common principle at play: stress is the signal for growth. At the cellular level, our tissues are listening. If we don’t provide a reason to build resilience, the body stops investing in it. But if we send the right signals—through movement, challenge, and progressive load—our cells respond by building strength and capacity, enabling us to live more fully.
This principle extends beyond the physical. Our brains and nervous systems also require appropriate levels of stress to thrive. Neurological and psychological resilience, just like physical strength, is forged through challenge—not avoided by it.
Far too often, I meet people whose health and strength have quietly declined after injury or pain. They were told to rest, ice, elevate, compress, and then given a few low-effort rehab exercises. While these tools have their place, they often fail to deliver the message the body truly needs to hear: “We’re ready to grow again.”
Stress, when appropriately applied, is not the enemy. It’s the language of the body. If you want to change, you must speak that language.
