As the economic problems deepen around us, many people are finding it difficult to cope. Their lives are taken over by stress as they seek to balance competing demands for their time, attention and energy. The more they try, the larger the problems seem to get. The truth is that stress has become public enemy number one, for many people.

No living organism is free from stress. We all experience stress of some kind in varying degrees; The important consideration is not that stress exists, but how we are able to manage it as we seek to cope with it in our lives.

Stress is as basic to life as we know it. It is not my intention here to discuss in any detail the psychological conditions that are related to stress. There is a great deal of information that is available to the interested reader on this subject. My intention is to point out that much failure in life stem from people's inability to creatively manage stress in their lives and to offer some suggestions as to how we may do so. Since stress is part and parcel of our existence it is something with which we have to struggle throughout our lives. Stress is not necessarily a negative thing. If anything it wakes us up to the reality that we are alive. What becomes of importance is not whether we should be free from it but how we can manage it to ensure a fairly decent level of functioning as we go through life.

In dealing with stress in my own life and in seeing others deal with it in theirs, I have become fully convinced that the human body has a remarkable capacity to withstand stress. This is perhaps what the psalmist meant when he said that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). I have often been amazed at how people are able to bounce back from circumstances in their lives that should have brought them to the floor. When they were down for the last count they raised themselves from the canvass and continued fighting. Often, they would go on to win the fight.

The ability to deal with stress will vary from individual to individual. There are some people who will buckle under little stress, bearing in mind that what may be considered "little" for some people is big for others. The ability to deal creatively with stress is related to the coping mechanisms that we have acquired. Ultimately, such skill is related to the development of character, particularly its strength and malleability. Helen Keller, who was forced from an early age to deal with great stress in her life, wrote that character cannot be developed in ease and quiet, but through experience of trial and suffering. This will eventually lead to a strengthening of the soul and to success. Success here is not related to banishing stress but being able to bring your life under a measure of control so that you can function productively and effectively to do the things that pertain to your well being.

(In the second installment we will present some practical ways in which you can cope with stress. Stay tuned).