While my sister was cooking, the pressure cooker suddenly burst open with a loud thud—the lid shot up, hit the ceiling, and then fell down. Fortunately, she had stepped out of the kitchen just before it happened and wasn’t hurt. Later, we discovered the safety valve was blocked, preventing the pressure from releasing properly. As a result, the cooker exploded from the built-up pressure inside.

Just like a pressure cooker, we too cannot let pressure build up inside us without release. Life brings many stressful and anxious moments that we cannot avoid. How well we manage this pressure determines our quality of life. If we don’t vent or release stress gradually and healthily, it can build up and eventually lead to a breakdown.

Make sure you have “safety valves” in your life too, to help manage stress and maintain your inner peace and mental well-being. These can be anything that works for you—family, exercise, meditation, time in nature, hobbies, or other activities that bring you balance.

“Have you taken a moment to check if your own ‘safety valves’ are functioning properly today?”

Are there any “pressure points” in your life where stress is building up unchecked? Do you feel supported enough by your family, friends, or hobbies to keep your mental balance?