There is an interesting novel called Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert Sapolsky!
The author had written amazing novels such as Determined and Behave! I was supposed to start with the first one ‘WHy Zebras…’ and then move on to Behave and finally Determined! Unfortunately I started from the last which is rare!
May be that is why we get ulcers!
The Zebra would have started with the first!
But the fact of the matter is that Zebras do not get ulcers! This is mainly because they do not spend half of their time thinking about the future spoiling their health!
They live one day at a time!
It is so easy to understand the problem but so difficult to get the solution! I have myself not to worry or stress or eat on time or do not think too much about future; all this while I can hear my inner voice ridiculing me! “YOU DO ALL THESE THINGS BUDDY!”
Anyways Robert gets into the whole system!
He starts by stating that Zebras generally do not get ulcers because they experience stress as an episodic, short-term physical emergency rather than a chronic psychological state.
The core reasoning includes an interplay between Episodic vs. Chronic Stress!
A zebra’s stress response (the “fight-or-flight” system) is designed to handle immediate physical threats, like being chased by a lion. Once the threat is over, their body quickly returns to a state of calm!
Unlike humans, zebras lack the complex neural architecture to worry about future problems or ruminate over past events. They don’t experience “anticipatory stress” over mortgages or social status, which in humans keeps the stress response constantly activated!
Also in humans, the sustained release of stress hormones like glucocorticoids—caused by chronic worry—eventually suppresses the immune system and shuts down digestive repair mechanisms. This makes humans more vulnerable to the Helicobacter pylori bacteria that often leads to ulcers!
Finally as zebras only use their stress response for its intended evolutionary purpose, they avoid the “slow accumulation of damage” (such as heart disease or ulcers) that plagues modern humans who remain in a perpetual state of psychological alert!
The Zebra sees the lion once! We see LIONS everywhere and all the time! They are known as BOSS, MONEY, HEALTH and FUTURE PLANS!
Plus the Zebra does not have to worry about the lates FASHION trend!
I know what you thought when I mentioned that! And NO! You cannot DO THAT!
You can however reduce your stress by listening to Robindra Sangeet by Guru Rabindranath Tagore!
Shubh Ratri…
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