Jay Gram

Two quotes about our attitude facing difficulties and the meaning of life

Several good life quotes and commentaries about difficult situations we face and the meaning in life.

Whoever smiles, instead of going frenzy, is always stronger. (J. V. Goethe)

Smiling when we are feeling happy and crying or frowning when we experience emotional or physical pain is natural – it's simply in human nature and there is nothing we can do about it. It's just the way we are made with our typical and natural reactions to the outside and inside stimulus. However, there are people that react differently than most of us, when facing the unfavourable or severe circumstances. Instead of going nuts or screaming something like that: “we going to die!”, they boldly accept the life challenge, whether it is physical pain, death of a loved one, joblessness, bankruptcy, shortage of food or water or any other severe event. Most people simply start panicking and looking for desperate measures just to get out of the present situation, when they should really be staying calm and even embracing the what's ahead of them and changing what can be changed. There is an inscription in a stone in Tibet, which says: “Have you already learned to rejoice over difficulties”? The same statement only in other words is found in the Bible. Hardships and trials of life bring up everything that we so carefully hide and that's when weak and strong personalities show up. One doesn't have to suffer even that much – just take your best friends on a challenging rock climbing trip or mountain trip for a few days or even longer. You might see and witness things you haven't even noticed or thought about your buddies. Some might be turning more and more selfish, not willing to share the bottle of water or a warm blanket on a cold night. Others might be helping you and sharing their supplies in every step you take. When you notice the difference – stick with the ones who are stronger and unselfish.

After hard trials life becomes more meaningful. (Dalai Lama)

It's interesting to watch how people change their priorities and find the meaning of life after shocking accidents and even near death experiences. As far as I know, most of them start focusing on such things like faith in God, church, relationship with friends and relatives, practicing their spiritual life. Being almost “born again”, when people are given a second chance to live, they reevaluate their whole life with utmost seriousness. The same can be true about recovering from fatal sicknesses or emotional breakdowns. What is it that changes (sometimes very drastically) their attitude and the whole way of life? I guess, we can clearly see our true calling, meaning and destiny in life only after a good life beat up. Then such things like career, money, social status, cars and houses lose their prior significance, because in the eyes of eternity they are just things that don't matter that much anymore. What matters most is our heart, God and our close ones. At least that's what those people tell. Someone said: “the future will tell, what's out there”. Well, I choose to enter the future with a clear head and a pure heart. Anyway, I haven't heard much of people regretting their faith in God or friendly and helping hand at the end of their lives.

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