Final answer:
The concept of a life free from all stress is not a simple true or false proposition, as stress can have both positive and negative effects on individuals. Positive stress, or eustress, can be beneficial and motivating, while excessive or unmanaged stress can harm one's health and well-being.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assertion that a life free from all stress is an ideal goal is nuanced and does not account for the constructive aspects of stress.
While chronic stress can indeed be detrimental to one's health and well-being, psychiatrists Holmes and Rahe, along with other researchers such as Selye, have indicated that eustress—or positive stress—can motivate individuals, enhance memory recall, and lead to improved performance in various aspects of life. For instance, stress can drive students to excel in academic pursuits, athletes to perform at their best, and professionals to reach career milestones.
Conversely, stressors can negatively impact mental and physical health if they become excessive or persistent. Hence, rather than striving for a stress-free existence, it may be more beneficial to seek a balanced life where stress is well-managed, allowing for a dynamic equilibrium between stressors and meteors—the latter being experiences that contribute to a sense of enjoyment and quality of life.