Introduction

Life is full of challenges, and how we perceive them makes all the difference. A challenge is not automatically stressful — it becomes stressful only when we feel unable to meet its demands. This chapter begins by asking you to think about the nature of challenges, using a familiar example: the pressure of examinations.

The opening story of Raj, a student who cannot sleep the night before his final exam, is something many of you may recognise. He is tense, blames himself for not preparing well, and on the day of the exam his heart pounds, his hands are clammy, and his mind goes blank. This is a classic case of a life challenge — the examination — turning into a source of stress because of how Raj has interpreted it.

Life poses challenges all the time, not just in exams. Consider a child who loses both parents at a young age, a young woman widowed in a car accident, parents raising a child with a disability, or young people working night shifts in call centres and struggling to sleep during the day. Everywhere you look, life presents difficulties. Some people succeed in meeting these challenges; others succumb to the stress.

The textbook gives a sharp example: a number 11 batsman in cricket will view facing a fast bowler’s delivery very differently from an opening batsman. The opening batsman looks forward to the challenge; the number 11 batsman may dread it. It is often said that one’s best comes out when one is challenged.

This chapter will explore how a life condition turns into either a challenge or a cause of stress. It will also examine how people respond to various life challenges and to stressful situations. The key point to hold from this introduction is that the same event can be a motivator for one person and a source of breakdown for another — the difference lies in perception, preparation, and the skills one has to cope.