Come what may, all bad fortune is to be conquered by endurance. – Virgil
See? I told you it was worth enduring !
What does that mean?
To me, this quote says that no matter how or why it happens, bad fortune (an unfortunate turns of events) can only be conquered by enduring it. In other words, when things don’t work out the way you want (or hope), you can either give up (surrender) or you can fight your way through (conquer it) using your endurance.
The quote also implies that by enduring the bad fortune, you will eventually get to better times. In short, nothing bad lasts forever, so be ready to tough it out. Unfortunately, it also implies that nothing good lasts forever either.
Why is endurance important?
Endurance of the physical sort seems to be fairly prominent in primitive cultures and their initiation rites. In more primitive times, physical endurance and tolerance to pain were very valuable traits for young warriors to have.
Today, endurance seems a bit less physical and more mental in nature. Are you mentally tough enough to not give up when things go sideways? This kind of mental toughness is valuable in pretty much every aspect of our lives.
Where can I apply this in my life?
I suppose the question should probably be asked the other way around. Can you think of any time you wouldn’t need the ability to endure misfortune in your life? How about in the following situations? In your love life? At your place of work (or the lack thereof)? In the case of a financial setback? With any of your hobbies or projects?
Even something as simple as a goofed up bill or overcharge at a grocery store. You can endure the difficulties of getting it straightened out, or you can give up. The neighbors are being rowdy, do you endure it or call the police? The dog down the street is barking (again), do you endure it, or do you call Animal Control?
How does one increase the ability to endure? Someone else might have a short-cut, but my answer is going to be the same as always. You have to do it over and over, build up the muscle called endurance. And that means repetitions, lots of repetitions.
Before we start on that, I want to be clear about something. To me, there is a fine line between bearing something and enduring something. To me, bearing something means you’re keeping score, you’re taking that incident and putting it in a sack you carry on your back, just waiting for a chance to empty it over the offender’s head.
In contrast to bearing something, to enduring something is far more zen in nature. You simply allow it to co-exist with you, and carry no grudge when it is done. My recommendation is to try to endure as much as you possibly can, and bear as little as possible.
Start with a list of little annoyances. Perhaps something simple like toilet seat up or down. Do you bear it, or endure it? Do you discuss it, or do you argue about it? I would recommend taking a deep breath and let it out. Let out your breath as well as your anger and frustration. Adjust the seat as needed and get on with your business.
How important is this little annoyance, really? Is it truly important, the way breathing and eating are? Is it truly a priority, or can you endure this minor inconvenience? What else can you choose to endure? Socks on the floor, do you toss them in the laundry, or pile them on their side of the bed? Which is enduring and which is bearing? Which response helps the relationship and which harms it? Is this issue really something worth damaging your relationship?
Obviously, these are trivial examples from a personal relationship. You can find similar annoyances at work. Does a co-worker always say “ummmm” or “like”? Can you endure it? What if they hum or whistle? The same goes for any other part of your life.
Practice with the small irritations of life, and soon you will find you can endure larger misfortunes with little difficulty, and a great deal of grace. Soon, anything and everything just rolls off your back like water off a duck. Life gets easier when you aren’t stressing over minor setbacks, and until you face death, they’re all minor setbacks, right?
From: Twitter, @philo_quotes
confirmed at : http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/v/virgil145413.html
Photo by Susan E Adams
A strong person knows they have the power to endure anything if they try