r/Stoicism • u/ClutchMaster6000 • 3h ago
Do you think stress is always negative? New to Stoicism
Stress may be viewed as a negative external pressure that the Stoic should overcome to maintain eudaimonia. However stress can also be a motivator to get more work done.
Does this mean that stress has a functional role in life, or is it something that sufficient fortitude/courage would render unnecessary?
7 Upvotes
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u/KarlBrownTV Contributor 3h ago
No. Stress is a force, and a signal.
It can be a signal to stop and do less, or stop and fix something, or change something, or do more.
It's important to listen to stress as a signal and see what's going on. I've been on the wrong side of that warning a few times, taking time off injured because I ignored that stress signal or missing work because of burnout by not realising I needed to do less and stand my ground on that were not fun experiences.