What doesn't kill you will make you stronger

Found this article from Atlanta Business Chronicle few months back, and I thought this might motivate myself abit... for those who are as lost as me, check this out...

What doesn't kill you will make you stronger
Atlanta Business Chronicle - by Connie Glaser
Are you resilient? No matter what kind of position you hold — from sales manager to CEO — in our economy and in today's work environment, professional disappointments are inevitable. Stock prices can (and do) plummet; key support personnel may routinely let you down; your division can unexpectedly be restructured. The possibilities for setbacks are endless. And the same goes for your personal life.
Unfortunately, some people are permanently scarred when bad things happen to them. It's as if they have accepted and absorbed the unplanned circumstances and, ultimately, chosen to surrender. Obviously, waving a white flag whenever things go wrong can seriously damage your career, as well as dilute your character. Some people regard that sort of giving up as the unfortunate adult equivalent of an out-of-control toddler's temper tantrum.
The next time you experience a career roadblock, it may help to remember that professional jolts — believe it or not — can actually be a good thing. Once you make up your mind to use a frustrating work experience as a tool that can give you a different perspective, you're well on your way to bouncing back big time.
Below are some catch phrases that might be considered clichés by those who choose to dwell on disappointment. But those who refuse to set aside their expectations because of an unfortunate obstacle or two will admit that the following tips can make the difference between a professional speed bump and a dead end. Those who have weathered scandal, setbacks, disappointments or disgrace know only too well that Nietzsche's advice to those in need of resilience was to remember that "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
1. Are you overinvested in your career? If you remember to inject balance in your life, it will help to diminish the effects of a downturn in one particular area. If you have good relationships, activities outside of your workplace and some sort of spiritual influence in your life, then what happens at the office won't be the only thing on your mind.
2. Life will go on. Believe it or not, a professional disappointment does not cause the earth to stop rotating. The sun will rise tomorrow; Thanksgiving will still appear on the calendar, and each day, week, month and year provides the opportunity to turn things around and recover your lost professional peace of mind.
3. This, too, shall pass. When you're in the middle of a chaotic situation, it's difficult to imagine that life will ever be different, but it helps in both good times and bad to remember that change is the only thing you can really count on. It doesn't pay to get too exuberant when things are going well or to be too devastated when they're not.
4. Be proud of the attempt. Remember "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest?" In the movie, Jack Nicholson had a wager that he could accomplish something that really was impossible. When he failed and others laughed at him, he was able to walk out of the room with his head held high because, as he put it, "Well, at least I tried."
5. Rewrite your goals. If you re-evaluate what is truly important to you or where you really want to be going, then whatever bad thing has happened might not seem so dire. It is OK to change direction in life.
6. List your lessons. If you weathered a rough patch in your career, it can be useful to take a step back and ask yourself what you've learned from the experience. Try to look at the circumstances and the individuals involved from an objective viewpoint. There is always something to be learned.
7. Lemons = Lemonade and Eggs = OmeletsThe French suggest that if you break an egg, you can make an omelet, and Americans urge people who find themselves with lemons to make lemonade. It may take a while to discover the possibilities of your disappointing circumstances, but something good is likely to be there.
8. Take the long view. It might seem as if your current situation is "The Worst." But, if you can detach yourself from what happened this year and think in terms of how important it is in the long run, it somehow dilutes the damage. Ask yourself the question "Will this matter 10 years from now?" when you're feeling particularly low, and it might give you a clean slate with which to evaluate what has happened to you.
Glaser, author of "Swim with the Dolphins," teaches communications and professional development for Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia and major corporations. E-mail her c/o Atlanta Business Chronicle (atlgrowth@bizjournals.com). Winning at Work appears monthly.