॰We human beings have apparently accepted that ‘stress’ and the consequent ‘suffering’ are an integral part of human life but the perception is not realistic as fortunately, there is enough wisdom available to explore and exclaim, Why Manage? Eliminate Stress!
॰What is Stress? The dictionary meaning of ‘stress’ is, ‘A state of mental or emotional ‘strain’, resulting from demanding circumstances!’ i.e. more demanding the circumstances more alarming are likely to be the stress levels. Engineers tell us something similar about structures that it also suffers ‘stress’ which is directly proportional to ‘strain’. And also, that ‘strain’ develops due to a deformation which happens due to a ‘gap’ or a space that accommodates the deformation. Structures have to have ‘gaps’ but these are ‘designed gaps’ and hence have ‘controlled stress’ levels. The concept of ‘gap’ as reason for ‘stress’, in structures, has quite a close parallel to the phenomenon of human ‘stress’ caused by ‘gap’, a deficiency in our performance aimed at target compliance.
॰Why Stress? If there is a ‘gap’ between the target, “given” [by boss @ work place] or ambition “chosen” [by oneself], and the compliance/achievement, one is very likely to suffer worry. We may naturally feel worried that we would face a punitive action (at the hands of boss @ workplace) or we may suffer from self-criticism. But it is important here to see if this ‘gap’ arose as we did not perform at our best or in spite of our best efforts! This fact influences our reaction pattern such that every ‘gap’ incidence need not become a ‘stress’ incidence.
॰Stress is not ‘situation centered’! While it is reasonable to argue that under such situation of poor target compliance, anyone might feel worried, it is also common knowledge that any two individuals react differently to a given situation. One may feel less worried & stressed than the other, under the same life-situation. That means stress is essentially a function of individual’s reaction to the situation [मन: स्तिथि] rather than the situation [परिस्तिथि] itself. Hence ‘stress’ is an internal phenomenon, independent of the external circumstances, including compliance of the target given/chosen.
॰‘I may not achieve the target!’ We need to handle this disturbing perception. Firstly, perception is not a reality at the moment. And no one can see into the future; our worries may very well end up being imaginary so try to drop such worries at the current moment. Secondly, in case you have some reasonable ground to believe your perception of poor compliance then it is better to accept the probability and do away with the constant worry & stress due to this perception! Swamy Anand Siddharth nicely suggests, “जो भी होना संभावित है स्वीकार अभी से अच्छा है।” This approach will facilitate undivided attention and full utilization of your energies for the work-execution, aimed at the given/chosen target compliance.
॰Maximizing your efforts: The Gita way! The Gita says, ‘कर्मणि एव अधिकार: ते।’; act now to the best of your ability, as you have right only in action since that only is in your hands at the present moment. It further says, ‘मा फलेशु कदाचन।’ i.e. so avoid wasting part of your energy in pondering over the end result, over which you never have a right to intervene since that always lies in future, as compared to the moment of action itself! This approach will ultimately bring the ‘level of performance to your best feasible’ and the actual target compliance as close as possible. Hence least probable punitive action (at the hands of boss) or least self-criticism and consequently least stress!
॰The targets may be genuinely unrealistically high. It may happen that in-spite of actually working ‘to the best of our ability’ we are nowhere close to the given/chosen target level then are we doomed to helplessly suffer stress? Not really. It is already brought out before that stress is a function of our reaction to the situation not of the situation itself. The way out is to accept the result willingly.
॰Say ‘Yes’ to Life! Swamy Anand Siddharth provides a very useful piece of advice here, “जो भी तनाव है जीवन में सब अस्वीकार से आता है।” Whatever stress is there in (your) life, it is because of the non-acceptance. The moment you accept willingly the end result of your efforts, you must become worry-free hence stress-free! But if it is so simple a way out i.e. willing acceptance of end result, why we fail to follow it? Actually, we seem to be helplessly clinging to non-acceptance of the end result and remain perpetually stressed! Why? There is a secret.
* ‘One’s True Potential for Performance: The Existential Limit!’
There are three levels of performance, relevant for discussion here;
(a) Performance Expected from the individual i.e. the Target/ambition, given/chosen (say ‘x’);
(b) Performance Achievable by the individual i.e. Potential (existential limit) to perform (say ‘y’);
(c) Performance Achieved by the individual: Compliance level realized (i.e. end result, say ‘z’).
1. If ‘x = y = z’, the given/chosen target is achievable i.e. x=y, no stress during performance of activity/efforts aimed at the target compliance. Subsequently after putting up the required performance when the target gets actually realized i.e. y=z, there will be no stress.
2. The Universal Key! If ‘x > y’ but ‘y = z’, the given target is not achievable with the best of ability then ‘x’ value tends to become meaningless (to the individual). Potential ‘y’ is now the relevant achievable target, being the limit to individual’s capability. If the potential, is actually realized also then having truly done one’s 100%, one is at peace with oneself. Such individual is able to accept the realized compliance, the end result, willingly. The individual would not be worried & carry stress. However, the individual may still face punitive action as that is a function of boss’s satisfaction about your efforts.
3. We are the Creators of our own Stress! If ‘x > y >z’, the given/chosen target is not achievable hence target ‘x’ becomes meaningless and true potential ‘y’ becomes the new target, achievable. The potential though achievable always, may not be actually achieved here for some reasons. The individual, “knowingly or willfully” may not perform to the best of his ability & intentions, and ultimately the achievable target, the ‘potential’, may not be realized. Then being morally responsible for failing to achieve the ‘potential’ ‘y’, such individual is unable to willingly accept the end result and encounters a sense of guilt, self-criticism and ultimately suffers stress.
Hence Just do your best!
*If there is no willful neglect in achieving one’s ‘potential to perform’ then there is no cause left, for stress. It is immaterial if the given target was actually achieved or not. That is what the verse, ‘कर्मणि एव अधिकार: ते, मा फलेशु कदाचन।’ Hence an individual himself can finally choose if he will remain in stress or not. Individual here, of course, may still face punitive action at the hands of the boss!
*A Word of Caution: One may engage in self-deceit! May think of posing as doing one’s best without actually doing so. It will not help. Hence, while performing, observe yourself that you are truly performing to the best of your ability & intentions. Before you pack-up and look for the end-result, ask yourself, ‘Have I done all that I could have done?’ If your authentic answer to yourself is ‘yes’, go ahead and greet the result with smile! However, in case the authentic answer to yourself is ‘no’, introspect and do what more can still be done.
*The take away points;
- Handle any assignment at hand, with the best of your intention & ability. Realize your true performance potential…no matter what the end result. It will control new generation of stress!
- Choose and follow a convenient relaxation routine. There is one titled, “Recite Relax Rejuvenate…The 3R Therapy!”, in this very website also; for your easy practice & benefit. It will help release piled up stress!
*शुभकामनायें।