CHALLENGE, NOT OPPRESSION
Edmund Burke, (1729-1797) the Irish writer, statesman and philosopher, once observed that “he that wrestles with us, strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper.” Saadi Shirazi (1210-1291 CE), the famous Persian poet, has expressed very much the same thought in the form of a parable in his book entitled Gulistan: “Don’t you see, when a cat becomes frustrated, it claws out the eyes of the lion.”
Na bini ke chun gorbah aajiz shavad
Bar arad ba changaal chashm-e palang
Each of these writers has seen something positive in adversity, and implies that neither passivity nor lamentation is fitting response to it. Each, by his words, encourages the sufferer to adopt a positive attitude and to launch himself on a positive course of action when confronted by difficulty or danger.
If an incident occurs against you by others, there are two possible reactions. One is to perceive it as oppression, and the other is to see it as a challenge. When viewed as oppression, a mindset of complaint arises, whereas viewing it as a challenge fosters a mindset of competition.
A complaining mindset leads a person to believe their only task is to start protesting and accusing the other party. They use all kinds of words to express their discontent. In contrast, a competitive mindset pushes a person toward action. It encourages them to understand the situation and find a strategic response that, through wisdom and careful planning, can neutralize the opposing party’s plans.
The mindset of complaint and protest drives a person down paths where they waste even their remaining energy in futile struggles. On the other hand, the mindset of challenge awakens a person’s hidden potential. It gives them new strength, enabling even the weak to overcome the strong, and a cat to make a lion retreat.
The present world is a world of competition. In such a setting, a complaining mindset leads to destruction, whereas a strategic mindset leads to growth and progress.
Imagine you’re walking down a path, and your garment gets caught on the thorns of a bush. What would you do in that moment? Instead of complaining, you would choose the path of strategy. You don’t protest against the bush; instead, you think about how to resolve the problem.
A wise person knows that this strategy should also be used in human relationships. Even when dealing with others, conflicts can happen, and we might feel uncomfortable or think someone has wronged us. In such situations, instead of complaining, we should take a strategic approach.
Every issue in life is a challenge, not a sign of one person’s injustice toward another. If a problem occurs and you see it as injustice, it can encourage a mindset of complaint and protest. This mindset may even lead to despair, making you believe that nothing can be done in your current situation. A complaint-driven mindset results in despair, which can then lead to a form of psychological self-destruction.
Conversely, if you see a problem as a challenge, your hidden talents will awaken. You will gain the courage to face the situation. In the first scenario, if your mindset was negative, it will now shift entirely to a positive one—this is the key to success and failure in the present world. In this world, anyone who thrives on complaining and protesting in the face of problems is headed for failure. On the other hand, someone who focuses on finding solutions when faced with issues will inevitably succeed, because every problem has a solution, and every difficulty has a remedy.
