Hi Richard,
When adversity comes, most people put blames on their luck (怨天) or other people faults (尤人). "It is such a bad luck day to me. I forget my homework at school." "I could not finish the examination as the teacher didn't give us the enough time." "He started the fight. Not me!" "Not my fault! I don't care." Do all these sound familiar?
Human being, like other animals, is born with an instinct defense system in our brain. So, it is not difficult to explain this behaviour. But, we shouldn't be fooled by our instinct. After calming down, we should ask ourselves how we could avoid the adversity from happening again. We shouldn't allow the same pain hurting us the second time (不貳過).
Regardless whose fault it is, it is very essential to accept that the adversity is hurting you and you have an issue to resolve. Yes, you could wait for your luck turning good or wait for changes from other people. However, there is no guarantee. You could spend your whole life waiting without seeing the results. Will it be stupid not to take control by our own hands? Why don't we start the change from our own selves?
An Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore also said, "If you cry because the sun has gone out of your life, your tears will prevent you from seeing the stars."
With love, Patrick
p.s. Any words I quote in my writing are a good piece for thinking, of course, from my perspective. It does not imply that I agree with all the other words of that person or that book.