Living organisms need stressors in order to survive.
This is a quote from a talk by one of my favorite authors, Nassim Taleb.
Now, what does it really mean?
You would intuitively think that “NO stress” is much better. That’s normally because we hear everywhere that stress is bad or that lots of stress can kill.
Therefore, we start to make associations between stressors and negative outcomes.
That is true in a way; stress in excess and not correctly managed will lead to devastating outcomes,but stress at a certain threshold is not only not devastating for a living organism, but even necessary.
Stress
Let’s swap “living organism” for “human being” – and “stressor” for “exercise” –
Basically, exercise puts a determined amount of stress on the muscles. When we are at rest, let’s say on the couch, our muscles are at ease, in a relaxed state.
When we go to the gym and start lifting or pushing heavy objects, we are then placing a certain amount of stress on the muscles, basically creating micro-tears in the muscle fibers.
How would that be beneficial to us? Well, precisely by “tearing” the muscle, we allow our body to repair it and become bigger/stronger –
It starts to adapt to the new “environmental challenge”. From an evolutionary point, that means survival.
Let’s take the example of Running – the “stress” is now being aimed towards the heart, making it pump a lot of blood faster and stronger than it would at rest.
Surprisingly, that teaches our heart to then be able to pump blood at a slower and more efficient rate when we are at rest.
Multiple living organisms
Now this applies to a variety of situations, not just organic entities.
We can in a sense see a company as a living organism in itself, as it has to adapt, overcome competition, and fight for survival.
Then it’s no wonder that companies that experience long periods of financial stability and lack competition may become complacent, leading to stagnation and a failure to innovate.
Without the stress of competition, they may fail to adapt to changing market conditions and eventually face bankruptcy.
When an investor is accustomed to consistent and effortless returns, a sudden market crash causing a significant loss, such as a 50% decline in value over a short period, can create immense stress.
If the investor has never faced such a situation before or lacks prior experience in handling market downturns, it could result in catastrophic outcomes.
Stressors are beneficial to organisms. Consider what happens when a car is not used. You might think that’s better, but anyone who has left a car unused for a prolonged period of time knows that’s not the case.
Stress in more abstract ways
Abstract stressors, like emotional, psychological, and mental challenges, can offer benefits despite their initial difficulty.
For example, navigating a tough situation at work that demands problem-solving skills and resilience can foster personal growth and boost confidence.
Enduring emotional turmoil, such as grief or heartbreak, might ultimately enhance empathy and emotional intelligence, strengthening relationships.
Confronting mental hurdles like self-doubt or fear of failure can prompt self-reflection and growth, leading to a clearer sense of purpose and improved mental resilience.
Despite their daunting nature, these stressors can contribute to personal development, resilience, and a deeper self-understanding.
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
Probably there’s a reason the cliché is cliché.