Avoiding "catastrophizing" and embracing empathy can retrain your brain to better handle stress. But when under pressure — real pressure, as he was the day he became president after John F. Kennedy was assassinated — Johnson assumed a near preternatural calm. Certain people seem designed to perform well under moments of intense pressure. Although stress is an essential tool for keeping the brain alert, too much has harmful consequences. Learning how to stay cool under pressure will make your life easier, because being constantly anxious and on edge isn't good for anyone.

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