Knowing how to find sense and meaning in challenges, problems and even tragedy is an important skill for anyone. Begin learning by going back in your life and recalling how you reacted to your own past challenges, problems or tragedies, and how some of your friends, family or colleagues reacted to theirs. You will notice positive and negative responses. Learn from them— noticing which ones were helpful, and which ones caused sadness or stress.
If you reflect on how the problem or tragedy is going to impact you 10, 20 or 50 years from now you will see the problem in a different light.
The Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran said: “Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding”. Prophets, saints and holy people all had their share of sorrows. Why would people so close to divinity go through this unless there was some merit in going through it. Also, many great successful business people and sports stars also went through many ups and downs before achieving success.
One of the messages that we get from these examples is that when a breakdown happens it can lead to breakthroughs!