There is a myth (神话) in today’s society that human beings are weak and that the only way to be happy and successful in life is to protect oneself by avoiding difficulties. Not only is the myth false, but the actions we take believing them to be “protective” also usually limit happiness and even hamper (阻碍) personal and professional growth. Rather than fear and try to avoid all difficulties, perhaps we should accept the unavoidability of difficulties in life and prepare for, if not welcome, them. As a muscle grows stronger with stress, so can people, teams, organizations, even communities.

Sports psychologists Fletcher and Sarkar have studied Olympic gold medal winners. They conclude, “Indeed, most of the participants argued that if they had not experienced certain types of stressors at specific times ... they would not have won their gold medals.”

Psychologists Richard Tedeschi and Lawrence Calhoun even created the term “posttraumatic growth”. They describe it as the experience of positive change that occurs as a result of highly challenging life crises (危机). It is shown in a variety of ways, including an increased appreciation for life in general, more meaningful interpersonal relationships, an increased sense of personal strength, and a richer spiritual life.

The remarkable success stories that arise after moments of great challenge and failure are countless. Abraham Lincoln faced long-term depression, political failure, and the loss of a son but arose from failure and tragedy to become the greatest of American presidents. Thomas Edison failed thousands of times trying to create the world’s first practical light bulb. Harland Sanders developed Kentucky Fried Chicken in his 60s while recovering from a failed career as a lawyer.

An English philosopher once wrote the result of sheltering people from their mistakes is to fill the world with fools. Let us not make that mistake. Rather, let us understand that growth arises from challenge and even failure. The myth of overprotection keeps us all from realizing our full potential.