Is Pressure Good For Humans?

You’ve heard it said that pressure produces character. The analogy often used is carbon deposits pressurized deep underground that produce coal. Without the pressure, there would be no transformation of substance. So, if pressure is good for carbon, is it also good for humans? Does pressure actually produce character?

Pressure Could Help You

Maybe so and maybe not. If you avoid the impact of pressure on you, it won’t make a difference. Only if you choose to go through the pressure and not run away from it, you will grow in character.

For instance, when there is an impending deadline and we feel excessive pressure, our human response is to turn inward because we feel threatened. By dropping into survival mode, we overreact because we’re not really threatened. Just pressured.

When we turn inward, we escape any character-building benefits of pressure. For instance, some turn inward and are more aggressive by becoming short with others, barking orders and making demands. Others are more passive by becoming unresponsive and inaccessible, as if they left the building with Elvis. What is your tendency?

Use Pressure For Your Good

If you know your native reactions, you can prepare yourself for them and manage yourself through them. Otherwise, you are left with having to suffer with them—yet again. For instance, rather than intensifying the pressure that others already feel with your intensity, you should self-regulate your reactions. And rather than crawl into your cave for protection and “survival,”, you should make yourself more open and available to others, thereby relieving their pressure.

Responding to pressure this way makes it a positive force. You are better able to engage pressure moments and increase your character strength.

The next time you encounter a pressurized moment, rather than turn inward with intensity or passivity, take a deep breath and exhale slowly. Then choose a better response than your natural run for cover. You will be surprised by how effective you become in managing your own stress and you help others deal with their situation.  All this is a result of using pressure to produce character.