Pressure and Stress are Different
by Michael Feeley
THERE’S A DIFFERENCE between feeling pressure and stress. The two are not interchangeable like synonyms. Both happen in our thoughts and the choices we make. However, how we react to events depends on how we handle pressure and stress.
You feel pressure when something is important to you – when you want to deliver on something; a deadline or commitment like having a house ready for a rental guest’s arrival, preparing for a job interview. So there’s motivation in pressure helping us achieve our goals.
Stress is more intense because you’re judging yourself and others are too, like working for a company where hitting your
sales numbers is essential to keeping your job.
Stress happens when pressure becomes excessive and too many demands are being made on you, making you feel overwhelmed, unable to cope with what is happening.
Often we create our stress, and it’s harmful to our mind and body, leading to anxiety, depression, trouble sleeping,
not making clear and sound decisions.
It seems too simple to say but – feeling pressure or stress is a choice you make and not easy to see or change.
Philosopher and psychologist William James explains the principle of choice:
“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.”
Think about it. Test it. It makes sense. It makes for relief.
Thanks – Michael
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I think this is relevant too – We All Have Two Kinds of Choices.
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