THE SECRET OF SUCCESS

A Western thinker said: That which does not kill me makes me stronger.

When a person faces a serious difficulty and does not lose heart but instead thinks deeply to find a solution, he awakens a new strength within himself. He develops the ability to face unfavourable conditions and to keep moving forward despite obstacles. Hardship destroys the foolish person, but for the wise person, hardship becomes a step toward progress.

Success in life relies on being open-minded, future-focused, and maintaining a positive attitude. Don’t dwell on questions like “Why did this happen to me?” Instead, concentrate on “What should I do now that it has happened?”

We need to get over the questions that focus on the past and on the pain—Why did this happen to me?—and ask instead the question which opens doors to the future. Now that this has happened, what shall I do about it? (Rabbi Harold Kushner, When Bad Things Happen to Good People)

The world we live in is such that unpleasant events are bound to happen. People face difficulties repeatedly. In these circumstances, the only way to achieve success is this: forget the past and think about the future. Do not grieve over lost opportunities, but direct all your attention to the opportunities that still remain, that have not yet been destroyed. Accepting the present opens the doors of the future. Refusing to accept the present deprives a person not only of the present, but also of the future to come.