--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It seems like what happens when we play…" description: "\"It seems like what happens when we play games is that we go into a psychological state called eustress, or positive stress. It's basically the same as ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/jane-mcgonigal-6871_adrenaline_it-seems-like-what-happens-when-we-play_1359657.jpg" --- # It seems like what happens when we play games is that we… ![“It seems like what happens when we play games is that we go into a psychological state called eustress, or positive stress. It's basically the same as negative stress in the sense that we get our adrenaline up, you know, our breathing rate quickens, our pulse quickens.” quote by Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/jane-mcgonigal-6871_adrenaline_it-seems-like-what-happens-when-we-play_1359657.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/jane-mcgonigal-6871_adrenaline_it-seems-like-what-happens-when-we-play_1359657.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/jane-mcgonigal-6871_adrenaline_it-seems-like-what-happens-when-we-play_1359657.jpg) > “It seems like what happens when we play games is that we go into a psychological state called eustress, or positive stress. It's basically the same as negative stress in the sense that we get our adrenaline up, you know, our breathing rate quickens, our pulse quickens.” [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing games triggers a positive stress response that energizes and focuses us, similar to negative stress but with beneficial effects. **In simple terms:** Games create uplifting stress that helps performance. Key Takeaway Use games to boost motivation and resilience. Themes motivation stress performance games psychology Mood energized focused hopeful Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - team building - learning - mental health - productivity - creative problem solving Key Concepts eustress arousal flow Questions to Reflect On - How can you harness eustress without burning out? - When does game stress become harmful? A Different Perspective Positive stress can become overwhelming if not balanced with rest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adrenaline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adrenaline/) [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Playing games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-games/) [Psychological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychological/) [Stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stress/) ## Related quotes > [“Positive stress, negative stress, - stress no less. It's all in how you manage your energies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-ann-l-tremblay/positive-stress-negative-stress-stress-no-less-it-s-all-in-how-you/) [Jo-Ann L. Tremblay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-ann-l-tremblay/) > [“Normal people don’t play all the toxic games psychological abusers do, and yet, survivors end up initially blaming themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/normal-people-don-t-play-all-the-toxic-games-psychological-abusers-do/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [Stress is basically a disconnection from the earth, a forgetting of the breath. Nothing is that important. Just lie down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/stress-is-basically-a-disconnection-from-the-earth-a-forgetting-of-3/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [More important, you have to stay happy and positive or the stress will kill you - but at least it will make you skinny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joely-fisher/more-important-you-have-to-stay-happy-and-positive-or-the-stress-will/) [Joely Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joely-fisher/) > [Stress is basically a disconnection from the earth, a forgetting of the breath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/stress-is-basically-a-disconnection-from-the-earth-a-forgetting-of-2/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [I think positive stress is actually a good thing. It's sort of the stretch goal "Wow, let me see how much faster I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/i-think-positive-stress-is-actually-a-good-thing-it-s-sort-of-the/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [Stress is basically a disconnection from the earth, a forgetting of the breath. Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/stress-is-basically-a-disconnection-from-the-earth-a-forgetting-of/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [“Adapting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/adapting-the-right-attitude-can-convert-a-negative-stress-into-a/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/adopting-the-right-attitude-can-convert-a-negative-stress-into-a/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [When your awareness is contracted, the flow of energy and information throughout your bodymind is hampered. You tend to stay stuck in toxic emotions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/when-your-awareness-is-contracted-the-flow-of-energy-and-information/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“The researchers worked with more than three thousand young gamers in total, and in all three studies they reached the same conclusion: young people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/the-researchers-worked-with-more-than-three-thousand-young-gamers-in/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [The single biggest misconception about games is that they're an escapist waste of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/the-single-biggest-misconception-about-games-is-that-they-re-an/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [It may have once been true that computer games encouraged us to interact more with machines than with each other. But if you still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/it-may-have-once-been-true-that-computer-games-encouraged-us-to/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [If you are a gamer, it’s time to get over any regret you might feel about spending so much time playing games. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/if-you-are-a-gamer-it-s-time-to-get-over-any-regret-you-might-feel/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [We've been playing games since humanity had civilization - there is something primal about our desire and our ability to play games. It's so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/we-ve-been-playing-games-since-humanity-had-civilization-there-is/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) ## More by Jane McGonigal > [Although I'm perceived as very optimistic and upbeat, it comes out of being the opposite of that - feeling isolated or lonely, looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/although-i-m-perceived-as-very-optimistic-and-upbeat-it-comes-out-of/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Urgent optimism is the desire to act immediately to tackle an obstacle, combined with the belief that we have a reasonable hope of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/urgent-optimism-is-the-desire-to-act-immediately-to-tackle-an/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [“Over time, even the tiniest meaningful actions add up, each one bringing you closer to a life that is truer to your dreams and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/over-time-even-the-tiniest-meaningful-actions-add-up-each-one/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [We've been playing games since humanity had civilization - there is something primal about our desire and our ability to play games. It's so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/we-ve-been-playing-games-since-humanity-had-civilization-there-is/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [“Traditionally, we have needed instructions in order to play a game. But now we’re often invited to learn as we go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/traditionally-we-have-needed-instructions-in-order-to-play-a-game-but/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [“No object, no event, no outcome or life circumstance can deliver real happiness to us. We have to make our own happiness—by working hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/no-object-no-event-no-outcome-or-life-circumstance-can-deliver-real/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Gamers always believe that an epic win is possible and that it's always worth trying, and trying now. Gamers don't sit around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/gamers-always-believe-that-an-epic-win-is-possible-and-that-it-s/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Cory Doctorow is a fast and furious storyteller who gets all the details of alternate reality gaming right, while offering a startling, new vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/cory-doctorow-is-a-fast-and-furious-storyteller-who-gets-all-the/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [“Gamers who have grown up being intensely engaged by well-designed virtual environments are hungry for better forms of engagement in their real lives. They’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/gamers-who-have-grown-up-being-intensely-engaged-by-well-designed/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Games are work. There are economies popping up in games now because people value them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/games-are-work-there-are-economies-popping-up-in-games-now-because/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [We are moving towards a new form of collective intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/we-are-moving-towards-a-new-form-of-collective-intelligence/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [I ran through most of college and ran through most of grad school. When I was writing my dissertation for my Ph.D., it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/i-ran-through-most-of-college-and-ran-through-most-of-grad-school/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Every game designer should make one explicitly world-changing game. Lawyers do pro bono work, why can't we?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/every-game-designer-should-make-one-explicitly-world-changing-game/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [There are people who are very dismissive of games and gamers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/there-are-people-who-are-very-dismissive-of-games-and-gamers/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [A game is an opportunity to focus our energy, with relentless optimism, at something we’re good at (or getting better at) and enjoy. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/a-game-is-an-opportunity-to-focus-our-energy-with-relentless-optimism/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) [Explore all 97 Jane McGonigal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) ## More Adrenaline quotes > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [I have a lot of adrenaline. I have a naturally fast system. But I love to eat, and I am not skinny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/i-have-a-lot-of-adrenaline-i-have-a-naturally-fast-system-but-i-love/) [Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/) > [I think you just have extra adrenaline playing at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-bellinger/i-think-you-just-have-extra-adrenaline-playing-at-home/) [Cody Bellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-bellinger/) > [When you are in hard labor, remember that the length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around. Avoid the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-odent/when-you-are-in-hard-labor-remember-that-the-length-of-labor-is/) [Michel Odent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-odent/) > [You get that extra pump of adrenaline when you come back to the courts where you remember how well you've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/you-get-that-extra-pump-of-adrenaline-when-you-come-back-to-the/) [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) > [I don't get stage fright, I actually love the energy, I love the spontaneity, I love the adrenaline you get in front of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-burke/i-don-t-get-stage-fright-i-actually-love-the-energy-i-love-the/) [Brooke Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-burke/) > [My heart beats so hard it hurts, and I can't scream and I can't breathe, but I also feel everything, every vein and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/my-heart-beats-so-hard-it-hurts-and-i-can-t-scream-and-i-can-t/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I'm an adrenaline junkie. I love climbing crazy trees or cliffs, which doesn't make my mom very happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/i-m-an-adrenaline-junkie-i-love-climbing-crazy-trees-or-cliffs-which/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > [Ever notice how your senses are heightened when you are in challenging situations? You're experiencing an adrenaline rush that gives you extra energy. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/ever-notice-how-your-senses-are-heightened-when-you-are-in/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I get called an adrenaline junkie every other minute, and I'm just fine with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-irwin/i-get-called-an-adrenaline-junkie-every-other-minute-and-i-m-just/) [Steve Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-irwin/) > [There’s something insupportable about being pissed with the one person on this planet that sends your adrenaline flowing to remind you that you’re alive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-castillo/there-s-something-insupportable-about-being-pissed-with-the-one/) [Ana Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-castillo/) > [And of course there is nothing better than wearing the same T-shirt for days and not brushing my hair for weeks,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daria-werbowy/and-of-course-there-is-nothing-better-than-wearing-the-same-t-shirt/) [Daria Werbowy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daria-werbowy/) > [Our training pushes us to develop a new set of instincts: instead of reacting to danger with a fight-or-flight adrenaline rush, we're trained to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/our-training-pushes-us-to-develop-a-new-set-of-instincts-instead-of/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [We put out real hip-hop at a time when it was turning into pop or R&B ... We brought the focus back to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/we-put-out-real-hip-hop-at-a-time-when-it-was-turning-into-pop-or-r-b/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I get an adrenaline rush from "playing with the big boys." I consider myself a tomboy and was an athlete in high school, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-alexander/i-get-an-adrenaline-rush-from-playing-with-the-big-boys-i-consider/) [Megan Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-alexander/) [Browse all 510 Adrenaline quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adrenaline/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It seems like what happens when we play games is that we go into a psychological state called eustress, or positive stress. 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