We all need some pressure in life to keep us active and motivated. But many today struggle with a multitude of external demands and burdens. Here’s one dictionary’s definition of stress: “A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.” Which might make us think that if we could only change our circumstances, we wouldn’t have all this pressure and stress! Well, of course, having perfect surroundings might help us, but it wouldn’t necessarily eradicate stress!
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The fact is that stress isn’t simply an external matter, as if we are passive objects, knocked about by life events. We all react very differently to events, people and circumstances; and stress says as much about our inner reactions, our inner world, as it does about external influences. There are many ways to cope with stressful events. But perhaps the most significant involves our own internal attitudes and responses, and how we learn to adjust them.
[1] ‘Work-related Stress, Depression or Anxiety
Statistics in Great Britain 2017′ | Health & Safety Executive (2017) | accessed 23 January 2018
Stress Management Society [see ‘Workplace Wellbeing Solutions’ – the original link to which the above refers is now obsolete] | accessed 23 January 2018
