Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. ---Max Ehrmann
When calamities, accidents, and sudden illness befall us, the first tendency...at least for me...is to go into crisis mode, with the adrenaline spiking and the threat of panic close at hand. But then reason and reflection, once any immediate danger has been properly addressed and diminished, should gradually assume a more dominant role in dealing with the troubles. This, I believe, requires a personal level of courage and faith that can lift one out of despair and fruitless worry while remaining in a state of enlightened and realistic vigilance while the situation remains problematic. It does oneself no good to overthink during these times about worst-case scenarios and then emotionally react to them as if they actually happened. The above quote is taken from writer Max Ehrmann's 1927 prose poem Desiderata, and it addresses this very human tendency to overreact to negative events in people's lives. We can only do what we have the power to do, and beyond that, learning to look at things with a more realistic perspective can contribute to a greater personal sense of balance, serenity and gratitude. I know...easier said than done. But "done" it must be...
