The proper role of stress

We live in a society that runs on hierarchy. If things go wrong, we blame the leaders instead of ourselves. Implicitly, we are saying that individuals -- well, only talented and powerful ones -- have the rational capacity to be ultimately responsible when everything goes wrong for millions of people.

Remember when Lehman Brothers went down? Think about now, as the financial system falters, at whom do we cast the blame? Apparently, it's those dirty CEOs, who still are reaping benefits while the economy is in ruin.

But there is something deeper at work here, and it has little to do with the performance of these alpha-humans. It has everything to do with social disorder. Our financial crisis shows that current formulations to predict success are inadequate.

At the center of the problem is how we deal with stress. How much does stress affect you? Think about it. From my observations, stress is so prevalent and extreme that it prevents us from performing effectively, and we have become dishonest to compensate for our inabilities.

Even so, stress can be a catalyst for our well-being. Within the bounds of community and relationships, we do our best because we care about those around us and want to make the most of our abilities. In this case, stress is a healthy pressure to act upon what we believe. It is a good kick that gives us the courage to realize the truth, instead of our allowing insecurities to lead us astray.

On the other hand, stress can have the opposite effect and prevent us from being ourselves. This type of stress is extremely deceptive, and we must be careful to not fall prey to it.

What is so bad about this second type of stress? It tells us lies. It makes us think that we have to know everything before we make a decision. It forces us to agonize over which decisions are right and wrong without the proper tools. It tears us away from trusting anyone except ourselves; instead, we manipulate others.

It also makes us construct a false sense of suffering. When we are searching for jobs, we have to get the right job. This job has to fit in with our career aspirations, and it has to be respectable so our resume gleams with prestigious companies and schools. If we don't attain the desired outcome, we have failed, and give up. Consequently, we look at failure as a bad thing, instead of a learning experience.

We also avoid real suffering. After college, what if you were to do something "not related" to your career at all? Here's a goal: Find a job that appears to be so worthless that you would be ashamed to put it on your Goldman-Sachs caliber resume. Do that job for the next year, and see how detrimental it is to your future success. I think you might be surprised with the results. You will grow in character and obtain qualities that are essential, but they won't go on your resume.

Now, look at your resume. Does it encapsulate you as a person? I hope not. It should just be the icing on the cake.

Contact columnist Michael Kolbe at michael.kolbe@richmond.edu