Rising Above the Ashes

Many people, when they come upon a stumbling block or an obstacle in their path, become discouraged and quit. But highly successful people know how to turn stumbling blocks into steppingstones, keeping them moving toward what they want to achieve. It is a great gift to be able to find the good in bad situations, and it is a gift you can give yourself, if you choose to.

In December 1914, Thomas Edison’s laboratories in West Orange, New Jersey were almost entirely destroyed by fire. In one night, Edison lost two million dollars’ worth of equipment and the records of most of his life’s work. The next morning, as he walked around the charred embers of so many of his hopes and dreams, the 67-year-old Edison said, “There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God, we can start anew.”

Or consider this: “It’s not about the ashes, for they tell a tale of what was. It’s about having a vision sufficient to understand that the tale that lies among the ashes stands ready to build the dream that will rise above the ashes.” (Craig D. Lounsbrough, professional counselor)

The ability to see the benefits in bad situations will stand you in good stead in every type of endeavor, whether it is sales or manufacturing, art or aerospace, your personal or professional life. Sometimes, this is a difficult thing to do. And sometimes, it can take quite a while to manage – but it is manageable. And think of the possibilities! We get to start again, with a clean slate, or whiteboard, or piece of paper – however you want to think about it.

Now this does not mean you should pretend things are wonderful when, in fact, they are bad. But, if you can accept pain and disappointment as a part of life, if you can see it for what it is and then move past it, if you can look disaster in the face and call it what it is – and then find a blessing in it – you will be making the best of bad times.