We all deal with stress. Some deal with it better than others. 

Stress is your friend when you -

• View stress as a natural reaction and useful tool
• Accept stress as perception (not reality)
• Practice self-awareness 
• Think of yourself in the 3rd person ("he/she" vs. "I")
• Avoid thinking traps  
• Adopt a positive explanatory style 
• Use stress as motivation 
• Are aware of your coping mechanisms  
• Practice healthy coping mechanisms 

Stress is your foe when you - 

• Fear and try to avoid stressful situations 
• Accept stress as reality 
• Discount self-awareness 
• Personalize everything 
• Fall into thinking traps 
• Adopt a negative explanatory style 
• Allow stress to demotivate 
• Are unaware of your coping mechanisms 
• Fall prey to unhealthy coping mechanisms