Stress seems to emerge in every stage of our lives. As children, we worry about making friends in school or being away from our parents. In our elder years, having enough money through retirement preoccupies our minds.
Sometimes it is hard to remember that stress is actually an evolutionary advantage that allows us to pinpoint life-threatening circumstances and act to resolve them. However, as #society has progressed, our psyche has extended what we deem as life-threatening. Failing our Chemistry 401 class or losing our dream job sends us into a frenzy. Although they may have life-altering consequences, we will undoubtedly survive. Interestingly, many of our modern stressors are human created. Perhaps stress is just a fact of life.
According to a recent study by the American Psychological Association, if you are like most Americans, you are stressed from financial worries (64%), work (60%), family responsibilities (47%), and health concerns (46%). As you can see, it is not until the fourth stressor that we encounter a problem innate to the human existence, health. With certain adjustments we can largely avoid these other factors in life. Learning to seperate ourselves from our societies’ consumerist mindset can ease financial burdens (aside from previously acquired debt). Finding our god-given passions can help clarify our missions in life and make our work life more satisfying. Of course, factors out of our control may make some of these stressors unavoidable, but it is difficult to believe that over half of americans are experiencing this. Ironically enough, the stressors we may be able to avoid worsen the top unavoidable stressor. It is common knowledge that the more stressed we are, the more unhealthy we are.
While the prior stressors are partially unavoidable, some are completely avoidable. A key example that comes to mind is peer approval. Eliminating this need from our life is easier said than done. During our teenage years, it is easy to understand a yearning for social approval in a time where we separate ourselves from our parents. However, imagine how much easier our adolescent years would have been if we did not care what others thought. There are countless examples of this for all phases of our lives.
Sometimes, it is essential to really sit and examine our lives objectively, see how we operate and react to life circumstances. Often times, we will realize the irrationality of our actions. Like water, we should live the path of least resistance. I believe a path has been set for us and all we have to do is follow it. If we do not try straying from this path we can avoid the stress that accompanies it. Sometimes, like water, obstacles come in the way, but if we flow past them without overthinking or overstressing, we may lead a more fruitful, satisfying life.
