Bridges
When a bridge over the Niagara was first proposed in the mid 1800s, it seemed so impossible that only a few engineers would even consider it. Determined to press on in spite of the obstacles, the proponents of the bridge made a selection among the four ambitious engineers that responded. Then the building began.
The first obstacle to overcome was to get a steel cable across the gorge. A cannon, a rocket, and a steamship were a few of the ideas suggested. However in the end, of all the ideas considered, the smallest and simplest of them all was chosen.
To start off with, a contest was organized to fly a kite across the gorge. After the contest was over and the awards were given out, a thicker string was tied onto the string of the winning kite and pulled back over to the other side; then a small rope was attached, and eventually a steel cable. By starting with small steps and building on each, what seemed impossible slowly began to take shape.
In my youth after repeated failure I began to think that changing my nature was impossible. My biggest mistake was thinking that the change had to happen overnight. Now I realize that most often change is a step by step process.
I find this step by step process of “bridging the gaps” where I’m weak in character plays a big part in how I face adversity. For example, the more positive my attitude, the quicker I am to see the opportunities in a difficult situation. The more patient I am, the easier it is to deal with problems that stretch over longer periods of time, etc. So I consider taking steps to strengthen my inner being as vital in successfully dealing with adversity.
Following are my own views, and other related articles on self-development. Click on a category to read more.