G. Gordon Liddy, the famous Watergate burglar, wrote a best-selling autobiography, called WILL. In it he tells a number of strange tales about how he purposely toughened himself to deal effectively with lifes challenges, and with adversity. One of his famous pronouncements was: Anything that doesnt kill me, makes me stronger! Politics aside, you have to tip your hat to this guy. Watergate reportage made him seem like a true head case. Who would hire this former G-man, ex-convict, and second-rate burglar, to borrow Nixons phrase. As you may know, Liddy did not land exactly on his feet, but he certainly got up, off the deck, and off his knees, to launch a very successful career as an author and radio personality. He is the real deal, when it comes to toughness: adversity made him stronger. Look back on your difficult times. See them in perspective. Did you make lemonade out of the lemons that were handed to you? Ill bet you did, because that is the survival instinct and human spirit at work. Were a lot tougher than we think. Its inconvenient that we play our best hands when the chips are down. Perhaps our character works like a muscle: it needs to be torn down, before it can be rebuilt, stronger than ever! |
