“Difficulty is what wakes up the genius.” — Nassim N. Taleb
Maybe we should begin with a lesser term than genius — How is maturity developed?
It is developed through a prolonged lack of comfort and privilege — which, depending on the stuff the individual is made of — can either break or build his spirit. By spirit I refer to hope for better things, the will to overcome bitter times, and the courage to absorb reality as it is — without running away or crying for mercy.
All the people I know who enjoy a pleasant life as a result of bold, unusual choices, had a lonely, painful, difficult past, where they had to learn how to quickly get smarter, wiser, mentally stronger. You naturally become self-driven once you realize no one is coming to help. People often assume you are cheerful and positive because you had a comfortable past. It’s precisely the opposite. You had to deal with the worst, and now understand the wiser way to handle the difficulties of life.
Difficulty is what wakes up the genius — yes indeed. But it is also difficulty that wakes up the worst in us — which leads us to crime, addiction, and suicide.
Constant and unwavering self-awareness and the curiosity to understand this large and mysterious world — accompanied by a slow burning fire within our hearts which just refuses to die regardless of the storms and winds that attack it from every side, a mind that realizes the glory of human kind - the intelligence and willpower bestowed into every child of the universe.
These are the requirements to turn problems into opportunity, pain into lessons, defeat into strength.
Cancelo Alvarez
No comments:
Post a Comment