HOW CAN YOU KNOW WHETHER YOU’VE NEVER BEEN TESTED?
“I judge you unfortunate because you have never lived through misfortune. You have passed through life without an opponent —no one can ever know what you are capable of, not even you.”
—SENECA, ON PROVIDENCE, 4.3
Most people who have gone through difficult periods in their life come to later wear those experiences as badges of honor. “Those were the days,” they might say, even though now they live in much better circumstances. “To be young and hungry again,” another might say wistfully. “It was the best thing that ever happened to me,” or “I wouldn’t change a thing about it.” As tough as those periods were, they were ultimately formative experiences. They made those people who they are.
There’s another benefit of so-called misfortune. Having experienced and survived it, we walk away with a better understanding of our own capacity and inner strength. Passing a trial by fire is empowering because you know that in the future you can survive similar adversity. “What does not kill me makes me stronger,” Nietzsche said.
So today if things look like they might take a bad turn or your luck might change, why worry? This might be one of those formative experiences you will be grateful for later.
9月4日
如果从未经历考验，你怎么知道自己有多强？
“我认为你是不幸的，因为你从未经历过不幸。你一路走过人生，却从未遇到过对手——没有人能够知道你到底有多大的能力，甚至连你自己也不知道。”
——塞内卡，《论天意》，4.3
很多经历过人生艰难时期的人，后来都会把那些经历当作荣誉勋章一样看待。他们也许会说：“那才是真正的日子。”尽管如今他们的生活条件已经好了很多。另一个人可能会带着怀念说：“真想再年轻一次，再经历那种一无所有、饥渴向前的状态。”他们也许会说：“那是发生在我身上最好的事情。”或者：“我一点也不想改变那段经历。”那些时期虽然艰难，但最终都是塑造人的经历。正是它们造就了这些人今天的样子。
所谓“不幸”还有另一个好处。经历过它并且活了下来之后，我们会更加清楚地了解自己的能力和内在力量。经历一次真正的“烈火考验”会让人更有力量，因为你知道，将来遇到类似的逆境时，你也能够挺过去。正如尼采所说：“那些没有杀死我的，使我更强大。”
所以今天，如果事情看起来可能会朝坏的方向发展，或者你的运气可能开始改变，又何必担心呢？这也许正是那种日后你会心存感激的塑造性经历之一。
