Chapter 6 face the inevitable

For those unavoidable things, such as willows being baptized by wind and rain, water receiving containers, etc., we must have the ability to accept these facts and bravely accept these inevitable things. When I was a kid, my friends and I used to play games in the attic of a dilapidated old log cabin in northern Missouri.When I came down from the attic, I stood on the window rail for a while, then jumped down.Since I had a ring on my left index finger, a nail caught it when I jumped, and that finger snapped off. I was so scared to death that I screamed, thinking I might die.However, after my hand healed, I didn't feel sad about it anymore.What else can be solved by being sad?I can only accept the fact that this has happened.Now I don't even pay attention to the fact that I only have three fingers and a thumb on my left hand.

A few years ago, I saw a man who was operating a freight elevator in an office building in midtown New York lose his entire left hand.I asked him if he was bothered about missing a hand, and he replied, "No, I didn't realize it at all, unless I noticed it when I was threading a needle." In fact, generally we accept any bad situation and either let ourselves get used to it, or don't think about it at all.On the ruins of a 15th-century old church in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, there is such a line: "The truth is what it is, nothing else." I often think of this sentence.

With the development of history to this day, it is difficult for anyone to avoid unsatisfactory things.If they are already this way, they are no longer any other.Even so, we still have a choice: to fully accept these misfortunes as unavoidable facts, and gradually adapt.Otherwise, we just let worry break our spirits and destroy our lives. I love this advice from the philosopher William James, which is: "Happily accept that it is what it is. Being able to accept whatever happens is the first step in overcoming the next misfortune." Portnam, Oregon Elizabeth Conley of the United States understands this truth now, and she also realized it slowly after experiencing many misfortunes. She told me about her own experience in a letter:

On the day the United States celebrated the Army's victory in North Africa, I received a telegram from the Department of Defense telling me that the person I loved most, my nephew, had disappeared in battle.Not long after, another telegram came from the Ministry of Defense saying that my dear nephew was dead.I am so saddened by this outcome.Before that, I always thought that God was on my side: a dream job, a beautiful dream, that is, to raise my nephew.In my opinion, my nephew is the embodiment of all good young people, and all my hard work has been worth it. But it was these two telegrams that destroyed my hope for life. I felt that life had no purpose anymore. What was the point of my life?So I didn't care so much about work, and I didn't have much contact with friends.Now that everything has no meaning to me, what else can I do?

I let it all go and became apathetic and lived with resentment all day long.Why did my favorite nephew die?Why is such a good young man let him die on the battlefield before he has started his beautiful life?I couldn't accept the fact that he had left me, and I couldn't be more sad.I decided to give up everything, including my hometown, my ideal job, and let myself soak in tears and regret. I started cleaning out my stuff and getting ready to quit.That's when I found a letter from so long ago that I've almost forgotten.This is a letter my nephew wrote me a while ago.He wrote it to me when my mum passed away a few years ago, saying, "Of course we'll all miss her, and I know you'll miss her even more. But I'm sure you'll get through it, you're a Such a strong person, according to your understanding of life, I believe you will be able to accept these. I will always remember how you taught me: no matter where, no matter how far we are, I will always remember what you taught me Learn to smile, be a man, and accept whatever happens."

I read over and over the letter my nephew gave me, and I felt that he hadn't left, and was talking to me by my side.He seemed to say, "Why don't you use the methods you taught me? Be strong and get through it. Whatever misfortune happens, cover it up with a smile and move on." Man is apathetic and disrespectful, trying to bring life back to the way it was before.I said to myself, "Things are in the past, I can't change anything, at least I can live as my nephew wants." I put my mind and energy into my work.He also wrote letters to the soldiers in front and other people's sons.In the evening, I take adult education classes, try to learn new things, discover new fun, and make new friends.If I hadn't read this letter, I wouldn't have thought that these new changes would still happen to me.I no longer grieve over things that are forever gone, and now my life is full of laughter, just like my nephew wanted it to be.

Elizabeth Conley understands what we all need to know sooner or later in life, that is, we must work hard to accept and adapt to the helpless things that have happened.This truth is not easy for everyone to learn, and even those high-ranking national leaders must often remind themselves to accept the facts that have happened. George V once left such words on the palace wall of Buckingham Palace: "I will not cry for the disappearance of the moon, nor will I regret what I have done." Schopenhauer also said the same thing: "There are The ability to accept is the most important thing in the journey of life.” Obviously, what makes us happy or unhappy is not the environment itself, but our ability to adapt to the environment, our own feelings.When we have to, we all have to endure various disasters and misfortunes, and even overcome these demons.Maybe sometimes we can't do what we want, but in fact, our spiritual power is extremely huge. As long as we make good use of it, these powers can help us withstand any disaster.

While writing this book, I have interviewed many prominent anti-American businessmen.One of their successful experiences impressed me deeply, that is, many of them, in the face of unavoidable things, can accept it calmly and still live a happy life, otherwise if they do not actively accept , it will be pressed across by greater pressure.That's why I think all leaders should understand this.