生于忧患，死于安乐

孟子短文，不足二百字，有理有据，一气呵成，堪称精品。我以为：

相比家喻户晓的第二节，三，四节更能说明孟子的本意。


舜发于畎亩之中，傅说举于版筑之中，胶鬲举于鱼盐之中，管夷吾举于士，孙叔敖举于海，百里奚举于市。

故天将降大任于是人也，必先苦其心志，劳其筋骨，饿其体肤，空乏其身，行 拂乱其所为，所以动心忍性，曾益其所不能。

人恒过，然后能改；困于心，衡于虑，而后作（注：振作）；征（注：征兆） 于色，发于声，而后喻 （注：明白）。入则无法家拂士，出则无敌国外患者，国恒亡。

然后知生于忧患，而死于安乐也。

圣经：
忍受试炼的人有福了，因为他既受试验得了称许，就必得着生命的冠冕，这是主应许给那些爱祂之人的。 雅 1:12

你们要进窄门；因为引到毁坏的，那门宽，那路阔，进去的人也多；引到生命的，那门窄，那路狭，找着的人也少。 马太福音 7:13-14

因为心思置于肉体，就是死；心思置于灵，乃是生命平安。罗马书 8:6

哥林多后书

4:7	但我们有这宝贝在瓦器里，要显明这超越的能力，是属于神，不是出于我们；
4:8	我们四面受压，却不被困住；出路绝了，却非绝无出路；
4:9	遭逼迫，却不被撇弃；打倒了，却不至灭亡；
4:10	身体上常带着耶稣的治死，使耶稣的生命也显明在我们的身体上。

Book: The Power of Adversity

Al Weatherhead truly believes that “tough times can make you stronger, wiser and better.” Having faced serious arthritis, heart disease, family estrangements and a battle with alcohol, he knows and understands adversity. He also has been able to leverage that adversity into both personal and professional success. This enlightening and inspiring book offers lessons on taking the worst of life and turning it into the best of life. Even the most serious problems can become life transitions to better and more productive times. This is Al Weatherhead’s story of changing adversity from an enemy to an ally, and instead of asking “Why me?” ask “Why not me?”

We’re Not Meant to be Happy...
We’re Meant to Grow

”When written in Chinese the word "crisis" is composed of two characters - one represents danger and the other represents opportunity.”

- John F. Kennedy

The Rules for Mastering Adversity
I.	We’re not meant to be happy... we’re meant to grow.
II.	Positive thinking is imperative.
III.	You are not at the center of the universe.
IV.	Instead of “Why me?... Why not me?
V.	It is luckier to earn than to receive.
VI.	Be ‘self-ish’ and put yourself first, by putting yourself last.
VII.	Never think “I have to do it. Instead think “I have it to do.”
VIII.	I suffer passes... I suffered never passes... A blade remains tempered long after the fire that scorched it has faded away.
IX.	Cultivate the seven ‘self-ish’ Virtues of modesty, gratitude, courtesy, self-control, compassion, perseverance, and indomitable spirit to conquer your adversity.
X.	Adversity creates walls... When you tear down those walls you create spectacular vistas of self-potential.
XI.	Leverage sweat equity built up by surviving previous trouble to help master current adversity.
XII.	Adversity always grants a chance to creatively resolve the problem.
XIII.	Running away never helps.
XIV.	Overcoming adversity requires the right attitude... meditation.... communication... and sharing.
XV.	Have the right idea about money. Success isn’t just possessions and power.
XVI.	Practice responsibility, loyalty, consideration -- the magic formula that is the secret to life.
XVII.	Always get the facts... real facts, not the imagined ones.
XVIII.	Treat time as your most valuable resource.
XIX.	Get perspective through acts of charity to others.
XX.	Adversity provides the only real opportunity to make an incredible difference in your life and the world.
XXI.	Come to see problem solving as one of the great joys of life.
XXII.	There is always a great idea lurking in adversity... Will you find it?