When we are worried or overly stressed we can’t do our best. We need to be proactive and live life with ease and joy. Our perceptions, attitudes, choices and responses are within our control.

There is a circle of control within which you are comfortable. For example if you are afraid of speaking in public then it is likely that in your nervous state you may shy away from the speech or not be able to deliver a confident and heartfelt speech. You may on the other hand, choose to focus on what is under your control by working hard on practicing that speech with friends, family and supportive people in order to overcome your fear.

When issues outside the circle of our control begin to take prominence they are likely to cause hurt. There are many ways to feel strong so that you are not always caught off-guard or unprepared for situations.

Not all stress is bad. We sometimes hear people say ‘I work better under pressure’ or ‘I thrive on competition’. There are others who endlessly crib about work pressure, increasing population, mounting prices, water shortage, etc. What we need is a balance. We need to feel stretched, but not so far that we feel we might snap.

Feeling bad or worrying about something, whether a fight or a difficult situation, does not fix the problem but adds to your feeling of helplessness. Being stressed is by itself, usually a cause for further stress.

The attitude of the person makes all the difference and the way they approach what confronts them. One person’s challenge may well be another’s business-as-usual.

Stress is not only desirable, but essential to life. A certain amount of stress is essential for normal health. Some stress is definitely required to stimulate us to do day-to-day tasks. Some levels of stress are beneficial for higher productivity and efficiency. A student may be nervous about studying for a competitive exam, but this does not automatically mean that it will cause him/her to perform poorly. The child may just become more conscientious with revision.