M

September 4th

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

ost 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.