I’m not sure if it’s only me who feels this way but stress sounds to me like an attribute of the middle class and above. Maybe it has another name but low income earners hardly talk about stress. Ironically nearly all the things we crave to have a good life have in-built stress.
You are better informed if you know that not all stress is negative. Some are positive and they motivate you to accomplish difficult tasks, that is eustress. The ones that strain you and make you anxious to the point of danger is called distress.
The commonest of stress are financial pressure, work pressure, family pressure, study related pressure, past mistakes, relationship issues, ambition, fear of failure, societal pressure and more. Tell me which of these do not influence your ambition before you pray for a stress-free life.
📍Work pressure. If you think your job is stressful, joblessness is not stress-free, even when it looks like freedom. Don’t generalise, identify the real stressor on the job and be intentional to manage it.
📍Financial pressure. Your needs are more than the depth of your pocket. It only makes you human. Some have more than they want but what they truly need cannot be bought. Some have wealth in abundance but don’t see anyone asking for their help.
📍Family pressure. There are times you feel overwhelmed by the choices you made or didn’t make. You can manage access but closing your door is not the solution. The day you realise that you cannot be everything to everybody is when you begin to have control over your peace of mind. No is also an answer.
📍Past mistake is a silent stressor that you may not even realise, when you keep flogging yourself for a mistake you made in the past which cannot be undone. You forgive others when they offend you, forgive yourself too.
📍Many people suffer friction in their relationships because of exaggerated expectations. Humans are humans with their flaws. Always proving that you are right may give you momentary pleasure but it could damage your relationship beyond repairs. It’s okay to be wrong too, you are human.
📍The fear of failure drives ambition but the line between ambition and inordinate ambition is thin. Fear can drive you to success and it can drive you to failure but note that fear itself is afraid of those who are not afraid.
📍Societal pressure. Someone said living in Nigeria is stressful but I asked if living abroad is stress-free. His answer was by illustration but I would have preferred a yes or no answer.
📍If you drive in Lagos traffic, you must be a skilful manager of stress but you have to be intentional. There is enough stress out there waiting to be transferred, why make yourself a recipient of transferred aggression? Let it slip.
📍If you deal with artisans in Nigeria, you need patience and you need wisdom. Do you believe that allowing them to cheat you once in a while can buy you loyalty? The day you have an emergency, your seed will work for you. It is an antidote to stress.
I have been thinking, which is better? To wish for a stress-free life or the wisdom to manage stress in your daily life? Share your thoughts.
Monday provides an opportunity for a fresh start. Should I then wish you a stress-free week? Smiles.
Thank God it’s Monday.
©️ Akin Oluwadare Jnr
09 February 2026
