I surfed the Internet to check out the various definition of stress.

Here are some.

Stress is the emotional and physical strain caused by our response to pressure from the outside world.

Stress is a feeling people have when it all seems too much, when they are overloaded and don’t feel that they are able to meet all the demands placed on them.

HSE’s formal definition of work related stress: The adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them at work.

We have stress when everything seems too much. We are overloaded and wonder whether we really can cope with pressures placed upon us.

Stress is a feeling that’s created when we react to particular events.

Stress is the state into which an individual may unwittingly enter when he or she is subjected to undue emotional, physical or mental strain.

Stress refers to the response you have when facing circumstances that force you to act, or adjust in some way to maintain your footing, or to keep things balanced.

Stress is basically a biological reaction. We are pre-programmed to survive, so actually, it’s a great survival mechanism.

All these definitions are great and explains in one way or other what stress is.

The definition I like most and will use as the benchmark for this Blog is the one from Richard S Lazarus.

Stress is a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilise.

In other words, if you genuinely believe the task ahead is more that you can cope with, you become stressed. This definition may not apply to all stress but I think it covers most forms of stress.

I like the word “perceives” in the definition. It is information in the mind of the individual that creates the stress.

If for instances an individual, confronted by a task beyond his capabilities, is focussed and motivated, his or her perception is different. This person will find a solution. He or she may well ask someone who has successfully completed this task or a similar one, or go on a course. This person will explore every avenue. It is not long before belief and expectation change in such individual.

Yes I can do it and I can do it well.

Attitude is important. Someone said your attitude determines your altitude.

Stay Focussed.

Dr. Phil Hariram.