Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Never panic, life is never easy

Never panic. We all experience a crisis at some time or other, either in our personal lives, professional activities or in my case, often on a mountain or in the jungle. The greatest piece of advice I can give is
Don't panic.
Try to avoid reacting immediately.
First of all work out all possible options or alternatives.

There is usually a way out or at least an opportunity to deal with the problem, no matter what it is. Often the problem itself can be the making of you and give you another chance to take another direction.

( By the way, it's interesting to note that the derivation of the word 'panic' arises from the sight of Pan; the primal fear of meeting this half-man creature. ) Sometimes you don't have so much time, but if possible, sleeping on a problem, waiting 24 hours, is all that is necessary to see things in a different and more acceptable perspective.

Maxim for the millennium 
Life is never easy, even for those that seem to have more than most. I always remember Sylvester Stallone saying in one of his interviews that if he'd understood at the beginning that the downside of fame was going to be as it really is, he wouldn't have taken that rocky road. Perhaps then he would have muscled in on another profession! Always keep your mind open and above all learn from your mistakes.

The philosophical tenet I would offer is:
He who learns but does not think, is dead. He who thinks but does not learn, is in great danger.

Source:
Seize the Day
3 Jan
Tips by Neville Shulman OBE
Edited by Nicholas Albery & Stephanie Wienrich
Chatto & Windus
ISBN: 1-5573-8290-5

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