Top executives, however, as a group show much fewer stress signs. There are exceptions in both directions, of course. There may be many reasons, like more control over their lives, but it is hard to believe they don't have pressures. Probably the main reason is that they are either naturally stress resistant or have learned how to handle the pressure without letting it eat them up. Fortunately, stress management is largely a learnable skill.
Most people can learn how to take the heat in their lives.
Before we talk about how, let's consider what stress is in more detail. I visualize it as a big red fire alarm inside the head. This is a system we are all born with and it is a good thing to have. However, the biological purpose of this system is to help prepare us for dealing with real, physical danger. When you are in real, immediate physical danger, it is appropriate to feel afraid.