Ask 20 persons about what stresses each one of them and chances are, you might get 20 different answers, lest one or two of them do not know what it is.

In fact, according to The American Institute of Stress, there is no exact definition of stress; it is subjective. What stresses you may not be true to the guy or gal next to you. A certain situation can be pleasurable to them when it is stressful to you, say speaking in front of people during a meeting, hanging on trapeze, chasing a criminal on his way to evading the law and you know what.

On the other hand, stress can be positive cause to avoiding accidents. Epinephrine, which is commonly known as adrenalin, surges when one is under attack or being in a stressful situation like a house on fire where you can lift your fridge out of the house, etc. or jump off the 10th floor of a building saving your body from being roasted or consumed by fire, but not from bone fracture or what.

However, stress is not always that big enough to risk a life or limb, but ordinary encounter with life, work or relationship causes stress too.

In an office, workers feel stress when their boss is having a bad hair day. Yes, many bosses out there have not yet mastered their skills in dealing with problems and instead of alleviating it they add more stress to people around by their bossiness and the like. Poor workers become the target of their incompetence say, putting the blame on workers sans thinking that they were the causes of the problems simply by being incompetents.

When your life is filled with misfortunes brought about by "nice people around" chances are, you tend to believe that you were victim of their manipulations, agendas, etc. Where, in fact, you have let them maneuvered your life sans standing by your principles, etc. You cause too much stress to yourself by entertaining them in your life.

If you are in an abusive relationship, chances are, you wish to had disappeared sans a trace. Wrong belief in love and lust, of course, had put you into this one. Fortunately, you can still change it by just a single decision: take back your life and take the straight road towards self- esteem, success and happiness.

How to de-stress yourself?

First, take a deep breath, smile and visualize you are occupied with worthwhile activities and surrounded by great people.

Second, entertain beautiful thoughts say your first date with your husband, wife or significant other.

Third, release negative thoughts by deflecting anger, hatred or what through writing a journal, shouting at the top of your lungs inside a restroom, or spend it in a karaoke bar singing the blues away.

Everyday stress is common problems each of us is encountering. With life complexities, we are bombarded with stressful situations which oftentimes left us helpless and succumbed to it. But, with the above powerful tips stress is nothing but a necessary evil to make us more loving, wise and understanding people.

The author is a mentor of teachers in elementary grades in the Philippines. Aside from being a grade school teacher, he is also contributing articles to magazines just to make good use of his spare time. He has joined writing contest in the past, but until now, he is dreaming of bagging an award! This is why, he is now trying his luck in this endeavor--blogging-- to find his niche and somewhere, somehow find a way of publishing a book.