Setbacks refer to those failures you encounter after setting goals.
In fact, most of the 'short videos' we see online are essentially stories about setbacks.
The reason you enjoy watching those 'home organization' videos is that you have thought about organizing your room many times, but you have failed every time.
The reason you enjoy watching those 'luxury sports cars' is that you desire to own one, but every time you desire, you fail.
The reason you enjoy watching those 'creative dishes' is that you have never seen them before. The moment you see them for the first time means that the part of you that has never seen them has failed.
Stories are the same. The vast majority of stories are about how the protagonist faces failure.
(The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber) is a martial arts novel. After Zhang Wuji learns the Nine Yang Divine Skill and the Universe Shift, he challenges the Six Major Sects. Although he succeeds in the end, we know he could have faced failure.
(Romeo and Juliet) is a love drama. The love between Romeo and Juliet is earth-shattering, but the reason you watch this drama is that their love may face failure.
The reason we enjoy watching this content is that within setbacks lies the energy that makes a person stronger.
True strong individuals see the energy of setbacks, therefore, they constantly seek out setbacks—but they do not search in a war zone, nor do they seek them in some dangerous love.
They will look for it in safer and more concealed places.
This place is within instinct.
True strong individuals always try to master their instincts. This means they can first see the parts of their instincts, including the desire for shortcuts, overestimation of self, path dependence, laziness, fear, and deeply rooted greed for certain things—especially the impulses of sexual instincts.
Mastering instincts does not mean eliminating them. You cannot eliminate the desire for food. Rather, it is about trying to control it within certain bounds.
You can eat, but choosing healthy food when hungry is a form of control.
You cannot eliminate the desire for sex, but you can elevate sexual impulses. As Freud said, transform sexual energy into the pursuit of art and social achievements.
Other instincts are the same.
For anyone, mastering instincts is the true shortcut to climbing upwards, regardless of whether you ultimately succeed or fail.
The reason is simple:
You have honed your psychological habit of never being discouraged when facing setbacks—sometimes this is referred to as adversity quotient.
When you challenge instincts, failure is inevitable. Even frequent.
Most people in this world only do what they are good at. Farmers are happy to farm every day, even if they know that raising pigs could yield higher income, they are unwilling to do so because they do not know how to face setbacks.
But those who have accumulated countless experiences facing setbacks during the days of struggling against instincts are different.
Challenges only excite them.
Because those experiences bring a kind of unbreakable faith:
Setbacks will make you stronger, even if this strength manifests much later.
But it will definitely happen.
