What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and by stepping up to the plate and dealing with your challenges, difficult as they may seem, you can grow in ways you could not fathom otherwise.
Consider the plight of the recently rescued miners in Chile, who were faced with a whopper adversity - stuck half a mile below the surface, in the rubble of a collapsed mineshaft. With little to eat and a fading likelihood of being saved, they used their resources to band together, making commitments to each other, and keeping the faith at all times; expecting the best even when it seemed impossible.
Their only food supply was some cans of tuna and salmon, enough for each to get a half-a-teaspoon per day, along with some oily water to drink. Yet, while some fighting did break out and there was division into groups, the overall effect was more peaceful than most societies above ground, a credit to all involved. Leaders led, teammates played their positions, and they all made it through.
What happened down there and what can we learn from it? I heard on the news that the miners and their families agreed not to discuss their experience with the press, with private book publishers and movie producers, or with anyone else, unless all of them could share in the return. The movie and book deals will yield millions for them and their loved ones; divided equally, a bonus that goes far beyond their safe return, a tribute to the character and pluck of these amazing people.
You see, what could have been a bloody scramble for survival transformed into a group consciousness that, in many ways, assured their destiny. The energy field of love, friendship and teamwork overcame the obvious dangers, and those in charge consistently provided hope, directing their focus toward their goal: in this case, to get out safely and see their families again.
In times of great stress and danger, we have a choice as to where our attention should be placed. Aiming at survival usually gets you . . . just short of survival. The key is to aim beyond survival, to expect something powerful and compelling, so it is worth it to stretch past the norm and move into a new realm of productivity and achievement.
Indeed, all growth stems from such conditions, a natural process to be sure, but most of us obscure it with our interpretations, beliefs and reverence experiences to the contrary. Actually, that's where the fun really begins - with choosing a right course of action and staying on it, purpose-driven, faith-based, and willing to follow through regardless of the pain or consequences. That is the foundation of determination and persistence - having something greater to aspire to, in the face of whatever unpleasantness or discomfort.
