As many of us are feeling the repercussions of one of the worst recessions in recent history, I would like to share with you my philosophy on the EQUATION OF LIFE. If you studied Math, Chemistry, Economics, Accounts or any one of these mathematical topics before, you would understand that equations have to balance.
For every good, there must be a bad. For every positive, there must first be a negative. For light to exist, there must first be darkness. For every market boom, there must first be a crash. For you to experience happiness, you must first experience sadness. For you to experience pride and inspiration, you must first have experienced disappointment and adversity. The greater the initial failure and disappointment, the sweeter will be the pride of success.
I remember watching the show ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ where it was based on the true story of Chris Gardner who went through a very difficult period of his life. His wife left him, he was broke, evicted from his home, slept in public toilets and in homeless shelter, jailed for unpaid parking tickets and went through a series of unfortunate incidents. However, he persevered where ordinary men would have given up. Finally, when he got selected to become a stockbroker in one of the most prestigious companies on Wall Street after competing against 20 other candidates, he broke down and shed tears of intense pride and happiness. The fighting spirit that the tough situations built within him was what gave him the drive to build a multi-million dollar stock broking firm himself. If he did not first go through those heartbreaking setbacks, he would not have become a millionaire.
For there to be God, there must be the devil (I know some religious people will want to kill me for saying this). Think about it, if not for pain, suffering and evil, will people turn to God for salvation? It is during hard times like these that people pray and go to places of worship more.
If you watched the matrix, the ‘architect’ mentions that the equation has to balance for the matrix to exist. In order for Neo (the Hero) to exist, there must be his opposite (i.e. Agent Smith who was the super bad guy).
This applies to every aspect of life. If George Bush did not screw up the US economy and damage the US’s reputation so badly, Barack Obama would not have become the first African American President today. If Al Gore would have won, he would probably have done an ok job and the US would have voted in another white guy. At the same time, if Al Gore had become the US President 8 years ago, he would not have made such a positive impact on global warming issues, won an academy award for his documentary and won the Nobel Peace Prize. Again, ‘failure’ led to the the birth of success.
If I did not get kicked out of Primary school (Primary 3) and get rejected from 6 secondary schools after my PSLE exams, I would never have been sent by my parents to learn about NLP. If I did not learn about NLP at the age of 13, I would not have been able to inspire thousands of students through my first book ‘I Am Gifted, So Are You!’ and achieve all the success that I have today. I would just have been another average Singaporean stuck in an average job.
So, how does this apply to your life? Well, instead of fearing and feeling lousy because of the bad stuff that happens in your life, get optimistic and know that there lies a great opportunity that always goes along with it.
hmm..
i get rejected from 20 JC in spore, in stead of going to Goverment Secondary school ,i go to private school in YMCA.i failed 5 subject out of 6subjects in the mid test,but i manage to bounce back and learn about NLP in IAG camp,that allow me to score 2A and 2B and meet a great rule model there(Adam).Moreover,I also inspired by the City harvest church in spore,i admired the pastor too..
I’m still in the progress towards success,and i know it’s coming.This powerful beliefs(like there is a great opportunity in every difficulties&everything happen for beneficial reason) is very helpful.
Keep the goodwork ADam..
Law of Polarity…
I think it’s kind of life balancing.
Dear Adam
You make alot of sense in what you write. You are gifted! Thanks for sharing!
That’s pretty inspirational stuff…thank you 🙂
Adam,
I couldn’t agree with you more. After 3 divorces, 3 heart attacks, and literally walking “through the valley of the shadow of death” with my last attack, I have chosen life over death, and am in the process of reinventing myself as a multi-million dollar internet marketing maven. Having been married for 23 years before the last one broke up, I decided to ask God and the Universe to send me a woman who I was not only compatible with, but who would truely be my soul mate and with whom I could start over, have another family, and once and for all truely create for myself and all those around me, and extraordinary life, where I could truly make a difference in the world on a global scale. Well, 8 weeks ago, I met my lady, of all places, on the internet! We are deeply in love, and in a matter of weeks we will be joining each other and starting our new life together. We are both so excited. Plus, I am just now at the point where I’m perfectly poised to start making money with my internet business. Perfect timing! I’m on my way man, and I expect this next phase of my life (I’m 58!) to be the most enriching and enlivening and glorious of all. And I know, deep in my heart, that if I hadn’t gone so deep into dispair, almost choosing to leave this life, in fact, I would never be on the steady climb I am now to amazing success, fulfillment and satisfaction the likes of which neither I, my family or friends have ever seen before. Thanks for the opportunity to share. I really believe in what you said in your article, and had to give you my confirming blast from my own life experience. “It’s always darkest before the dawn.” Peace out.
I wholeheartedly agree. And this financial crash was forecast at least 5 years earlier by channelled sources. The old has to break down and crumble to give way to the new.
The tougher is the challenge, the greater is the satisfaction of achievement….
Well expressed. Thank you.
Dear Adam,
Thank you so much for your encouragement. I’m in a very dark point, but I’m not giving up. Did you ever hear that Abraham Lincoln failed in almost everything he tried except in becoming president and free the slaves.
I believe we all have a destiny and the struggle is finding it. I’m praying for the guidance to where I need to be and what to do to fulfill that destiny in the most efficient and prosperous, joyous way. I like the verse, “God has his way in the whirlwind” and in my craziness in life right now where everything seems to be going wrong, I’m asking G-d to have his way. Another verse I like is, “call out to me in time of trouble and I will rescue you and my name will be glorified.”
I have one of your e-books, but my computer broke – I’ll try to get it out and start reading it again. Thank you for your inspiration.
Devorah
Very powerful message. I will pass this on because I believe that if it wasn’t for all the bad in this world, then we would never know what good is.
Hi Adam… I have followed your emails for a while now. I have two “bad” happenings that have sprouted only good. I live in New York City and in 1980 I was beat up so badly that I made the decision of “never again” and have since studied martial arts. I have studied Xing Yi, Ba Gua and I Liq Chuan and now I teach Ba Gua to a growing number of students. I have been to Beijing twice for further studies and met a lot of nice people in the martial arts world. Very wonderful. All this because of 3 guys who jumped me one night along time ago.
My second good happening comes from losing half my money in the bear market starting in Oct. 2008. I took my money out from my brokers hands and signed on for a stock and option course and now trade on my own. Today I sold two small positions I’ve held for about a week and pulled in $1250. Not bad. Over 100% returns. I am still learning and all this because I lost more than half my savings in the market. Very powerful message you have there.
Dear Adam
I have written to you before. I read the email \’Bad things must happen to you\’. It really makes sense. I have always believed in the concept that \’the only pre-requisite for super success is super failure\’. I think the cocept of delayed gratifications works. I am yet to get to the super success stage but I must tell you, I can see the light. I am a voracious reader.
I recently read the brilliant book, \’Outliers\’. What do you have to say about the concept of \’accidental advantage\’. There are things which make things easier if you are in a certain location, or a certain industry. Take this for example, I would have access to more of your sessions if I were in Singapore. I am not saying that I cannot fly to Singapore but people in Singapore have an accidental advantage, right?
Regards
Abhijit
Hi from Russia
Really deep thinking. You managed to put a whole vital philosophy in a few sentences.
This is so true. Its unfortunate, but we know everything happens for a reason.
wonderful post.
was feeling kind of low over academic issues.
well, thanks!