Satisfaction as stress – Nova Makedonija
The reason for equalizing pleasant feelings with stress is that some people do not distinguish between an important positive event that someone responds with emotions and
a pleasant or « positive » emotion. It is true that positive events in one’s life can be very stressful for that person, but stress is not caused by his pleasant feelings. Analysis of such cases shows that a person has mixed feelings, so stress is caused by hidden unpleasant feelings
Emotions mediate between the soul and the body, preparing the body for appropriate action. Because unpleasant feelings arise as a result of our assessment that something important to us is endangered, they prepare the body for an action that should protect this value. Unpleasant feelings are labeled as stress and at the level of experience and at the level of physical physiology. But what about pleasant feelings like pleasure, joy and happiness – are they stressful?
The answer to this question is negative: pleasant feelings have anti-stress effect. They cause physiological processes in the body, which are contrary to those in stress. Therefore, it is reasonable that the more experiences of pleasure, happiness and joy in life, the less stress.
However, many people think that pleasant feelings are stressful. Advocates of this view believe that it is best for us to be calm, in a kind of indifference, because that is the best way to avoid stress. Such a lifestyle really leads to a decrease in the parameters of physiological stress, at a high price: gives up personal values and, consequently, from one’s own emotions.
Another reason for equalizing pleasant feelings with stress is that some people do not distinguish between an important positive event that someone responds with emotions and pleasant or « positive » emotion. It is true that positive events in one’s life can be very stressful for that person, but stress is not caused by his pleasant feelings. Analysis of such cases shows that a person has mixed feelings, so stress is caused by hidden unpleasant feelings. For example, when one gets a long -desired promotion or a great cash prize, in addition to the positive aspects of that event, the person becomes aware of the hidden negative but important aspects: « Will I prove myself capable enough of my new job? » Or « I don’t know what to do with all that money. » For this reason, although the event is positive, the characteristic reaction is « negative », unpleasant emotion, or stress.
There is another link between stress and pleasant feelings: a pleasant feeling can become the cause of an uncomfortable feeling. It is not uncommon for people to have a « psychological ban on happiness » because they believe that their experience of great happiness somehow, magical, can « attract » a major accident. Therefore, every experience of great happiness becomes magically dangerous, causing fear and anxiety, which very effectively spoil the experience of happiness, bringing magical security.
Our collective mentality is formed in a « survival zone » where great attention is paid to vulnerability and unpleasant feelings. So we need to make a place in our heads for pleasant feelings so that we can live less stressful and have better quality of life.
Zoran Milivojevic
