Pressure makes diamonds. This seems to be a strange but common phrase that many people have at the tip of the tongue, ready to dispense to a young person struggling with all of the new loads that growing up brings to them. This phrase, constructed to give us an extra push in the face of adversity, to help us take on more than we think we can and to help us continue hoping through the most difficult times, truly does carry a good message. But is it the right thing to tell our young people?
Pressure makes diamonds. Pressure makes struggling people into perfect, polished individuals who shine and make the world a brighter place. However, pressure also makes coal. Pressure also makes struggling people into dark, cold people who burn themselves out every time they try to make the world a brighter place. Letting our children handle stress and take on responsibilities that suit their age is crucial in their growing process, but putting pressure on them to do things that they cannot do could also hurt them and affect their self-esteem.