A psychologist1 walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water， everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question. Instead， with a smile on her face， she inquired， “How heavy is this glass of water？”
　　Answers called out ranged from 8 oz2 to 20 oz.
　　She replied， “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute， it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour， I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day， my arm will feel numb and paralyzed3. In each case， the weight of the glass doesn’t change， but the longer I hold it， the heavier it becomes.”
　　She continued， “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long， you will feel paralyzed — incapable4 of doing anything.”
　　It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. Put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them from day to night. Remember to put the glass down！
　　一名心理学家在教室里给观众上一堂有关压力管理的课。她四下走动，举起一杯水，每个人都预想她会问“半杯满，半杯空”的问题。然而，心理学家笑着说：“这杯水有多重？”
　　从8到20盎司的各种回答都有。
　　心理学家回答道：“绝对的重量并不重要，它取决于我托着这杯水多长时间。如果我托住它一分钟，那没问题。如果我托一个小时，我的手臂会疼。如果托一天，我的手臂将会麻木瘫痪。在不同情况下，这杯水的重量没变，但是我托得越久，它就变得越重。”
　　她继续说道：“生活中的压力和担忧就如同那杯水。想一会儿压力和担忧，没什么事发生。想得时间长一些，人们就会受伤。如果你整天都在想压力和担忧，你将麻痹到做不成任何事情。”
　　记住释放压力很重要。把你的包袱放下，不要从早到晚都背负着它，记住，把杯子放下！
　　1. psychologist n. 心理学家
　　2. oz abbr. 盎
　　3. paralyze vt. 使瘫痪，使麻痹
　　4. incapable adj. 不能的，无能为力的