When faced with misfortune, make sure you do not allow yourself to feel you are the only person ever to find yourself in such circumstances. The same is true for those who are ill, and those who face a setback or failure connected to their ambitions. People tend to feel that they are the only ones who have ever had to face such a situation.
When adversity strikes, open your eyes and heart, and look at the people around you. You will realize that those who are successful are not only the people who have always known good fortune. Among themare certainly people who have experienced failure or adversity, who made the utmost effort and used their misfortune as the springboard for success.
Try to think about how many other people there must be who are in the same boat as you. There are many kinds of illnesses, for instance heart disease, cancer and numerous physical ailments. Whatever your condition, you are not the only one suffering this illness; in most cases, there will be others who are afflicted with the same condition.
Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) was the well known President of the United States who was confined to a wheelchair. Usually people who have to depend on a wheelchair to move around find it difficult to be socially active, but despite his disability he was able to carry out his presidential duties. He was a great man in that he did not live a life of excuses, but rather did whatever he felt had to be done. He was willing to make every effort to overcome his disability.
There is another example in the United States of a woman who succeeded in reaching one of the highest positions in the country. She lost her husband when she was still young, was rejected by her children, fell into poverty and became seriously ill. Notwithstanding her miserable circumstances, she was able to rise to one of the highest positions in government.
People such as these have come to understand important lessons in life through adversity. Those who even from the depths of adversity are able to reach heights that ordinary people would never aspire to all have something in common. I would like to explain what discovered through studying them. Firstly, theynever attribute their hardships to others. They never put the blame onto other people or bemoan their fate, because they understand clearly that this would do no good whatsoever. The first key is not to blame fate or other people for any personal hardship.
Secondly, they accept what fate has given them. They do not complain, "if only that had never happened." Instead, they accept whatever bad luck or adversity has come their way. In accepting it, they are seeing it as a reality and considering how they should go about overcoming it. They have the courage and determination to accept misfortune as a reality of life.
Thirdly, no matter what kind of adversity they face, they always find some lesson in it. They ask themselves just what it is that a difficult lesson is trying to teach them and search until they find the answer. The lesson that they learn becomes without exception a priceless treasure that remains in their hearts for a long time.
Fourthly, they never try to rely on the support of others. No matter what their disabilities, they walk the path they have been given alone, with a free and independent spirit, never forgetting to make the effort to help themselves. They accept their fate and their present state for what it is, but they do not let the status quo continue. They attempt to break out of their difficulty, relying on their own strength. All extraordinary people go through this process.
People who allow themselves to wallow in self-pity never achieve greatness, and many give in to the temptation to wallow. However, as soon as they appeal to others for sympathy, they condemnthemselves to a life of continually trying to win pity. Perhaps everything went smoothly until circum stances suddenly took a turn for the worse, or perhaps you suddenly suffered some physical disability or illness. But as soon as you have the idea of depending on others to help you through, your soul is giving in to defeat. Instead, accept bravely whatever fate throws at you, and be determined to overcome it.
NICE
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