We often come across situations that make us feel frustrated, helpless, and hopeless. When this happens, the last thing on our minds is that there is a silver lining, an empty half of the cup, or good news around the corner. But almost always, there is a rise after the fall, strength after weakness, and joy after sadness.
Psychologists make a point of reminding us of having faith in ourselves, of appreciating the journey and not just focussing on the destination, of believing in ourselves and our ability to make things work.
Yehia Nameq, writing 50 years ago, told "Arab youths" of a trick that would help them negotiate the hardships of reality.
When you wake up in the morning, Nameq said, look into the mirror and smile. Keep smiling to the mirror and don't leave it until the smile is imprinted on your face. Do this every day, Nameq added, but only when you're alone -- or people will think you've gone nuts.
His advice is valid even to the Arab youths of today: Look down upon misery, disdain your moments of frustration, see beyond the small crises and rise above the all-too-powerful instinct of revenge. Thank God for giving you another day of life.
It is a tried and tested method, and goes a long way back, as one can sense in the mood of Akhenaton, who addressed the sun, symbol of the omnipresent Aton, with these thankful words:
When you appear in the horizon
The darkness is banished away
Everyone goes to work
The trees and roses go into blossom
Birds sing in their nests
Lambs dance in the fields
Boats sail in the water
And the fish glitters
In the midst of the great sea
How diverse is your work?
You have created earth just
as you willed
And all the people and animals on it
You have created the Nile
in heaven
To send water to the creatures
To irrigate their fields
You sent floods from the mountains
For people and animals
to drink
It is in this sense of gratitude that man's capacity for optimism dwells. It is in recognising the blessings of our world that we develop the habit of confidence, the attitude of can-do.
Our true talents are not just about manual or mental virtuosity. Our greatest gift is our ability to enjoy doing what we do, and believing that what we do is worthwhile. If you lose this gift, you lose self-esteem.
The difference between self-confidence and self-doubt is crucial. A self-confident will be willing to persevere, to stay the course, to take risks. Whereas a self-doubting person will hesitate at every turn, give up too soon, and be distracted by negative comments.
We have to know what we want, and have the courage to pursue it. Yes, we may fail, we may stumble and fall, but in the end, those who stay the course will see the fruits of their work.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 31 May, 2012 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
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Youth