Maya Angelou once said, “I believe that a diamond is the result of extreme pressure and time. Less time is crystal. Less than that is coal. Less than that is fossilized leaves. Less than that it's just plain dirt.” Angelou was echoing the words of Scottish essayist and philosopher Thomas Carlyle, who simply wrote, “No pressure, no diamonds.” Both Angelou and Carlyle were referring to the fact that pressure is a crucial factor in creating valuable things — even if, at the time, the demand is a source of worry or unease.
Pressure, despite the often negative feelings we associate with it, can be motivating. It helps us to act, move forward, and complete our goals. Taken in a more positive light, we can accept pressure, embrace it, channel it… and maybe even enjoy it. As the tennis legend Billie Jean King often said, “Pressure is a privilege.”
Here are some wise words about dealing with pressure from elite athletes, Hollywood stars, and more.
An artist never works under ideal conditions. If they existed, his work wouldn't exist, for the artist doesn't live in a vacuum. Some sort of pressure must exist.Andrei Tarkovsky, film director
Never let the pressure exceed the pleasure.Joe Maddon, baseball coach
Pressure is a word that is misused in our vocabulary. When you start thinking of pressure, it’s because you’ve started to think of failure.Tommy Lasorda, baseball player and manager
If the pressure is getting to you, whistle. In a barely audible way. It's the best way I know of to let go of tension. Music gets your mind off the situation, and the act of whistling melts the tension out of your body.Fuzzy Zoeller, golfer
If you know your game, you can handle pressure, you can handle any kind of situation, back yourself, and play your own game and get success.Virender Sehwag, cricket player
You’re playing a game, whether it’s Little League or Game 7 of the World Series. It’s impossible to do well unless you’re having a good time. People talk about pressure. Yeah, there’s pressure. But I just look at it as fun.Derek Jeter
Under pressure, the most important thing I have to remember is to breathe.Curtis Strange, golfer
You just stop and you accept this moment for what it is. Just breathe right into that moment and it takes the anxiety and the pressure away of wanting this moment to be something it's not. Just this moment, one moment at a time.Oprah Winfrey
There are lots of things that keep me awake at night, but work isn't one of them. I mean, no one's going to die if someone doesn't like what I do. So I don't feel a great pressure.Martin Freeman, actor
I don't believe in pressure. Pressure is not being prepared for what you want to do.Colin Kaepernick
If you find that you are constantly under pressure at work, or in life, stop for a moment and consider that you have a choice to accept pressure or not… Rather than waiting until you feel like a time bomb ready to explode, take steps today to lighten the load.Michael Atma, personal development author
There's always a new thing happening to me that's even more extraordinary, so pressure gets harder… But I think I'm a hard worker and I'm ready for that. As long as I believe in what I'm doing, the pressure is OK with me.Céline Dion
Pressure is nothing more than the shadow of great opportunity.Michael Johnson
I've always said pressure is healthy, it depends on how you handle it. When you're under immense pressure, I think you get the best results.Gordon Ramsay
True character is revealed in the choices a human being makes under pressure — the greater the pressure, the deeper the revelation.Robert McKee, author and lecturer
I hear that word so much. Pressure. There’s a lot put on me. I don’t put it on myself. If I play my game, it’ll take care of itself.LeBron James
I don't feel pressure in a negative way. I like pressure. I feel excitement and calm at the same time. No pressure, no diamonds. I want pressure: Pressure creates drama, creates emotion.Conor McGregor, mixed martial artist
I am not looking to escape the pressure. I am embracing it. Pressure is what builds up in the chamber behind a bullet before it explodes out of the gun.Ronda Rousey, wrestler and mixed martial artist
Pressure creates resistance. By letting go we open ourselves to new possibilities, live more carefully, without a fight, and move in the stream of higher necessity in which we are happier.Monika K. Adler, photographer and filmmaker
I changed the pressure from negative to positive. So, instead of thinking everybody wanted to see me fail, I decided everybody wanted to see me win, since I wanted to see myself win.Keke Palmer, actress and singer
Photo credit: FOX/ FOX Image Collection via Getty Images
