“Ican'tstandthepressureandcompetition,”explainedonefriendofminewhenaskedwhyhedecidedtoquithishighly-paidbutdemandingpositioninhiscompanyrecently.Myfriendmayhavehisownreasons,butIdon'tthinkhisdecisioniswiseinreality.

　　It'struethatmyfriend'scaseisnotunique.Inthelastfewyearsquiteanumberofmenandwomenhavechosentodosomethinglesscompetitiveatthecostofacomfortable,easylifeahighly-paidjobcanobtain.Theyareafraidthatthestressesandstrainsofworkwillrobthemofjoyandhappinessanddothemharmbothphysicallyandmentally.Infact,however,stressisn'tthebadthingitisoftensupposedtobe.Unlessitgetsoutofcontrol,acertainamountofstressisvitaltoprovidemotivationandchallenge,andtogivepurposeandsignificancetoanotherwisemeaningless,idlelife.Peopleunderstresstendtoexpresstheirfullrangeofpotentialandtoactualizetheirownpersonalworth——theveryaimofahumanlife.

　　Stressisanaturalpartofeverydaylifeandthereisnowaytoavoidit.Whatwecandoistodevelopouradaptiveabilitiestodealwithitratherthantoescapefromit.