I think current self-evaluation also plays a part. The people who get back up are the ones that believe they have what it takes to overcome the adversity. The ones who lie there are the ones who say to themselves, "There's no point in trying -- I'm a loser, so I'll just fail again."
I've seen that sentiment expressed a couple of times -- the one that pops to mind is the song currently on the Country Western stations:
Life ain't fair, it can knock you on your butt.
You can lie there...
or you can get back up.
But I don't think I've ever seen it expressed in exactly those words. I think you can take credit for the quote.
The other thing that affects your reaction is your vision of the final outcome. People who, for whatever reason, have committed to do something, will tend to get back up and fight. They may not even have hope that they can win -- sometimes people commit to dreams they know are impossible to achieve -- but they're committed to the outcome, so they work on it.
I can't remember where I read someone saying that committment makes all the difference. If you decide that you're going to get to Philadelphia, you'll get there. If you can't afford a plane ticket, you'll buy a bus ticket. If the bus breaks down, you'll hitchike. If no one will pick you up, you'll walk. If you break a leg, you'll hobble. But you'll get there.
If you decide to see if you can get to Philadelphia, then it's up to chance whether you do or not... you'll get there if the bus trip goes well, you won't if it doesn't.
The difference is in what you picture as the final outcome: I will get to Philadelpia vs. I'll know whether I can get to Philadelphia. |