Mindset Matters: Naseem Rochette On How To Build Stress Resilience with a Positive Mindset

An Interview With Shawna Robins

Cultivate Self-Compassion: We’re often so hard on ourselves. Treat yourself with the same kindness you would offer a friend. If you make a mistake, learn from it and move on. Don’t beat yourself up.

In today’s fast-paced world, stress is an inevitable part of life. However, the way we manage and respond to stress can make a significant difference in our overall well-being. Developing a positive mindset can be a powerful tool in building resilience against stress, allowing individuals to navigate challenges more effectively and maintain better mental and physical health. How can we cultivate this positive mindset and use it to bolster our stress resilience? In this interview series, we are talking to psychologists, coaches, mental health experts, authors, about “How To Build Stress Resilience with a Positive Mindset”. As part of this interview series, we had the pleasure to interview Naseem Rochette.

In today’s fast-paced world, cultivating resilience is crucial. Naseem Rochette, a renowned speaker on trauma and transformation, embodies this strength. With a career spanning global leaders like Google and Microsoft, and advanced degrees from Columbia and Rutgers, her expertise is profound. A life-altering moment in May 2018 changed everything for her. After being hit by a vehicle, Naseem found herself in a fight for her life. Miraculously, she survived and discovered the strength in her “cracks,” celebrating that day as her “Unbreakable Day.” In her memoir, she explores the beauty in our imperfections and how to turn trauma into resilience. Join Naseem as she shares five down to earth strategies for building stress resilience and embracing a positive mindset.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to ‘get to know you’. Can you tell us a bit about your background and your backstory?

Pre-accident, I was a master of chaos leading a just-in-time life in many ways. I was a busy mom, juggling being present for my three kids, a robust social life, and a demanding career in tech. I was always on the go, always trying to do it all, and always trying to make it look easy like I didn’t need any help. I took on a lot — too much.

Can you share a story with us about what brought you to your particular career path?

After my accident in 2018, everything changed, and it reshaped my path. It led me to explore trauma, resilience, and how we can transform our pain into power. Now, I speak and coach others on building resilience and embracing imperfection, using the lessons I learned to help others turn their challenges into opportunities for growth. I had to turn this tragic event into something positive that others could benefit from.

Can you share with our readers a bit about why you are an authority in the stress and wellness fields? In your opinion, what is your unique contribution to the world of wellness?

Although I’m hesitant to call myself an inspiration, my story and book, The Unexpected Benefits of Being Run Over, have won self-help and motivation awards because the journey and the struggle is so relatable. My accident, while incredibly difficult, became a catalyst for growth and understanding. In many ways I had to completely rebuild my life, both physically and mentally. That experience gave me a unique perspective on stress, resilience, and the power of mindset. My contribution, I believe, is sharing that vulnerability and showing others that even in the face of immense adversity, it’s possible to find strength, hope, and even joy.

Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life or your work?

I love life lesson quotes! In fact, I start each chapter of my book with a quote and even have a section for Life Lessons that I call “The Sermon”. One quote that really resonates with me is “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do” by John Wooden.

It speaks to me of a growth mindset and focusing on what we can control. There was a lot I couldn’t do after my accident — and I had to focus and celebrate my small victories. Celebrating wins and milestones is important during tough times and setbacks. It is essential for well-being and fuels a resilience that can help you navigate challenges with a more positive outlook.

Ok, thank you for all that. Now let’s move to the main focus of our interview. Let’s start at the very beginning so that we are all on the same page. What is the definition of stress? How is it different than anxiety or overwhelm?

Stress is an interesting word — I think it immediately connotes something negative for many people, but it’s misunderstood. Anxiety and overwhelm are quite different.

Anxiety, on the other hand, is negative to me because it is more focused on worrying about the future, the “what ifs”, the things we can’t control and so our thoughts in anxiety aren’t usually productive or moving us forward. Overwhelm is that feeling of being completely swamped, like you don’t know where to start to tackle your mountain of responsibilities. To me, overwhelm is where I often start with my coaching clients. It’s a place where we can find and take one step forward towards conquering that mountain.

They’re all interconnected, but understanding the nuances can help you address them more effectively.

Can you discuss some common misconceptions about stress and those misconceptions can hinder our ability to manage it effectively?

I think stress is a word that has a lot of value if we remember that stress is defined as a state tension. We can stress our muscles, stress our mind, stress our limits, essentially pushing us to an uncomfortable point. We can grow in that moment if we choose too. It’s not an easy growth, however often an impactful one.

How does one’s environment play a role in stress management and maintaining a positive mindset? Can you provide examples?

Environment plays a huge role, both physical and mental environment.

Physically — a chaotic, messy, crowded space can amplify that feeling of negative stress and overwhelm. I actually find that organizing a space is often a great place to start when trying to change a mindset because it is a clear visual, external reminder of that change you are striving for.

A negative mental environment can also amplify stress and limit progress. For example, if you’re constantly surrounded by naysayers, whether at work or at home, it’s going to be difficult to maintain a positive mindset. The language we use matters, and if we believe we can move forward and have support from people around us, it is that much easier to move forward.

Another tactic that I find helps with both physical and mental progress is actually just building a list someplace like a whiteboard, paper, or notes on your phone, where you can write down and cross out the things you are trying to tackle. That way you can both celebrate your progress and limit the overwhelm by adding more control.

What role does physical health (e.g., exercise, diet, sleep) play in building stress resilience?

Our body and mind are connected. We can’t take care of one and neglect the other if we want to build resilience. So physical health is absolutely crucial — Exercise, diet, and sleep are all integral to stress resilience, and sometimes that is a journey. After the accident, I couldn’t exercise, I could barely move, I could barely sleep, but I was taking the steps, and still taking the steps, to improve in those areas. One step forward physically is often a big step forward mentally too.

Ok. Here is the main question of our discussion. Can you please share “5 Ways to Build Stress Resilience with a Positive Mindset”? If you can, kindly share a story or example for each.

The back of my book has a section called “The Sermon”. Here are some of the lessons I shared that can definitely help with building a resilient positive mindset.

1. Embrace gratitude: Take a moment to notice the good things around you, no matter how small.
2. Show appreciation. Tell people how important they are. It will make them feel good, and it will make you feel good, too.
3. Cultivate Self-Compassion: We’re often so hard on ourselves. Treat yourself with the same kindness you would offer a friend. If you make a mistake, learn from it and move on. Don’t beat yourself up.
4. Build Connections: Surround yourself with supportive people who lift you up and share with them.
5. Be Vulnerable: We have all been through something. When you share your struggles, then you get to celebrate your wins with those people.

Can you share an experience where you applied these stress resilience techniques in your own life? What was the outcome?

After my accident, I had to use all of these techniques. It was a tough journey, and I felt overwhelmed, scared, and uncertain about the future. Luckily, I was able to learn and use these lessons to reframe my journey. By focusing on gratitude, practicing self-compassion, and connecting with people, I was able to navigate those difficult times. It wasn’t easy, but it was through these practices that I found my strength and resilience, and I feel very fortunate that I was not only able to guide myself and my family through that difficult time, but I am also now able to share what I learned with so many people through my book, speaking, and coaching.

How can building a supportive community or network contribute to stress resilience and a positive mindset?

Connections are really important. When you have people around you like friends, family, your therapist, life coach, network, even just a few people who you can be vulnerable with, share your journey with, who believe in you, and who are there for you, you have a much better foundation to grow from. Sometimes, it’s a step forward and then it feels like two steps back, but with a good community, you feel less alone in your struggles, you have people that can remind you what to focus on, and you have people you can celebrate your milestones and wins with. Sharing the wins and the joy is just as important as sharing the struggles.

Are there any specific tools or resources (books, apps, courses) you recommend for individuals looking to improve their stress resilience and mindset?

Honestly, there are so many great resources out there. Meditation apps, mindfulness books, therapy, support groups, etc. It’s about finding what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to experiment and explore different options, and don’t wait to start your resilience practice. Getting through tough moments in the future will be much easier if you build that resilience mindset now.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

I love connecting with people and sharing my journey. I hope my story can inspire others to find their own strength and resilience. My book, The Unexpected Benefits of Being Run Over, is available in print, kindle, audible. My Instagram is @nasrocs and my website, where you can share your thoughts or contact me for coaching, speaking, workshops is naseemrochette.com

This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!

About the Interviewer: Shawna Robins is an international best-selling author of two books — Powerful Sleep — Rest Deeply, Repair Your Brain and Restore Your Life, and Irresistibly Healthy — Simple Strategies to Feel Vibrant, Alive, Healthy and Full of Energy Again. Shawna is the founder and CEO of Third Spark, an online wellness hub for women over 40 who want to reignite their sleep, reset healthier habits and respark their lives. Shawna is a sleep expert, hormone health expert, and a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBHWC). She has been featured on many podcasts including Dr. Mindy Pelz’s “The Resetter Podcast” and in Authority Magazine, Thrive Global, and The Huffington Post. A free download of her latest book can be found at www.thirdsparkhealth.com/powerful-sleep/ You can follow her on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.