生活中,决定成败的主要因素之一是我们对待逆境的态度。虽然我们不能避免逆境,但是我们能选择面对它的态度。
伟人的传记中, 都有许许多多的例子讲述他们如何克服了逆境,共同之处就在于他们都没有被打败,或者从此变得消沉。他们选择了他们的态度——乐观积极。他们勇敢地迎接了挑战,他们也笑到了最后。
I told my friend Graham that I often cycle the two miles from my house to the town centre but unfortunately there is a big hill on the route. He replied, "You mean fortunately." He explained that I should be glad of the extra exercise that the hill provided.
My attitude to the hill has now changed. I used to grumble1 as I approached it but now I tell myself the following. This hill will exercise my heart and lungs. It will help me to lose weight and get fit. It will mean that I live longer. This hill is my friend. Finally as I wend my way up the incline I console myself with the thought of all those silly people who pay money to go to a gym and sit on stationery2 exercise bicycles when I can get the same value for free. I have a smug smile of satisfaction as I reach the top of the hill.
Problems are there to be faced and overcome. We cannot achieve anything with an easy life. Helen Keller was the first deaf and blind person to gain a University degree. Her activism and writing proved inspirational. She wrote, "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved."
One of the main determinants of success in life is our attitude towards adversity. From time to time we all face hardships, problems, accidents, afflictions and difficulties. Some are of our making but many confront us through no fault of our own. Whilst we cannot choose the adversity we can choose our attitude towards it.
Douglas Bader was 21 when in 1931 he had both legs amputated following a flying accident. He was determined3 to fly again and went on to become one of the leading flying aces4 in the Battle of Britain with 22 aerial victories over the Germans. He was an inspiration to others during the war. He said, "Don't listen to anyone who tells you that you can't do this or that. That's nonsense. Make up your mind, you'll never use crutches5 or a stick, then have a go at everything. Go to school, join in all the games you can. Go anywhere you want to. But never, never let them persuade you that things are too difficult or impossible."
How can you change your attitude towards the adversity that you face? Try these steps:
Confront the problem. Do not avoid it.
Deliberately6 take a positive attitude and write down some benefits or advantages of the situation.
Visualise how you will feel when you overcome this obstacle.
Develop an action plan for how to tackle it.
Smile and get cracking.
The biographies of great people are littered with examples of how they took these kinds of steps to overcome the difficulties they faced. The common thread is that they did not become defeatist or depressed7. They chose their attitude. They opted8 to be positive. They took on the challenge. They won.
1 grumble [ˈgrʌmbl] 第7级 | |
vi.抱怨;咕哝;n.抱怨,牢骚;咕哝,隆隆声 | |
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2 stationery [ˈsteɪʃənri] 第7级 | |
n.文具;(配套的)信笺信封 | |
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3 determined [dɪˈtɜ:mɪnd] 第7级 | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的;v.决定;断定(determine的过去分词) | |
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4 aces [eisiz] 第9级 | |
abbr.adjustable convertible-rate equity security (units) 可调节的股本证券兑换率;aircraft ejection seat 飞机弹射座椅;automatic control evaluation simulator 自动控制评估模拟器n.擅长…的人( ace的名词复数 );精于…的人;( 网球 )(对手接不到发球的)发球得分;爱司球 | |
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5 crutches [krʌtʃiz] 第10级 | |
n.拐杖, 支柱 v.支撑 | |
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6 deliberately [dɪˈlɪbərətli] 第7级 | |
adv.审慎地;蓄意地;故意地 | |
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