Just as stress can make your muscles and bones strong, turning stressful events into positive, character building experiences can make you more resilient to future life events.
By taking the approach that stressful events are challenges, you can become resilient by broadening our response to activities that are stressful by giving attention to how we respond to stressful events(relationships, athletic pursuits, work environment). Positive emotions can improve our well-being.

https://plus.google.com/105250836780181048166/posts/H5n4K63SRMb

This is what Martin Seligman discusses in his book Flourish *http://tinyurl.com/ct3egmf*
Our Actions, if performed with meaning, can influence our well-being, and have a positive impact on others.