Victor H Mair, Professor of Chinese Language and
Literature at the University of Pennsylvania, refers to this interpretation
as inaccurate "pseudo-profundity." You may read
his essay
if interested. I still believe that most perceived
crises provide an opening for growth, no matter how
fearful the circumstances, a belief he labels as
"a type of muddled thinking that is a danger
to society, for it lulls people into welcoming crises as unstable situations
from which they can benefit."
Mair suggests, "Adopting a feel-good attitude toward adversity
may not be the most rational, realistic approach to its solution." But
a rational, realistic approach is only one part of
the human equation. We grow emotionally and
spiritually from crisis.
That's not the same as a "feel-good attitude" and certainly
doesn't mean we should welcome crisis. However, many people I've
coached who've undergone divorce,
bankruptcy, cancer, divorce, etc., have said it was the best
thing that ever happened to them - because it stopped the treadmill they
were on and forced them to look at what really matters in a relatively
short lifetime.
