When you tell yourself "Don't be stressed," your brain doesn't specifically process the negation "don't," but is more likely to focus directly on the key word "stress." So, it actually reinforces the concept of "stress." Similarly, phrases like "Don't be nervous" or "Don't overthink" tend to emphasize "nervous" or "overthinking," and the brain still receives these messages. A more effective approach is to use positive expressions, such as changing "Don't be stressed" to "Relax," "Maintain your rhythm," or "Focus on the present." This way, the brain receives the desired state, rather than what you want to avoid. Simply put: the brain finds it easier to understand "what you want" rather than "what you don't want."