Step 1.
I walk down a street and there’s a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. It takes me forever to get out. It’s not my fault.
Step 2.
I walk down the same street. I fall in the hole again. It still takes a long time to get out. It’s my fault.
Step 3.
I walk down the same street. I fall in the hole again. It’s becoming a habit. It is my fault. I get out immediately.
Step 4.
I walk down the same street and see the deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.
Step 5.
I walk down a different street.
Now imagine this journey to be mental. Replace “street”with “behaviour path” and “hole in sidewalk” with “state of stress”.