There’s a difference between pressure and stress. They often get muddled together, especially in work chats where everyone’s “under pressure” or “stressed out.” But they’re not the same thing and if accept that and accept people handle pressure in different ways, we can recognise the difference and react accordingly. Pressure is even. Stress is focused. Think of pressure like the atmosphere: applied all around, steady, invisible. It keeps planes in the air and ships afloat.