We are the endurable kind. Theory of evolution can explain why we, the ones sitting here reading this, have adapted and survived the harsh environment that many species found their peril to.

But technically, we can’t give ourselves much credit for this, as the process is long and for the majority of the time, was outside of our control. We here are a mere product of the processes at hand.

Yet in the smaller scale of things — a human life for example — we are very much in control.

Of course, there are those things outside of our control — our genetic composition including inherited conditions, predispositions, temperaments, family, culture and place of being born and raised, and so on. Yet, even with those at hand, we can still be in control.

We can choose what to eat and what not to eat. What to read and what not to read. What to say and what not to say. When to exercise and when not to. How to sleep and how not to. Examples go on.

But many of us don’t exercise the control that we’re capable of.

Technically, we think that we have far greater control than we actually have, and the irony, we exercise far lesser control than we can actually have.

Perhaps it is the thought of having control that gives us comfort, no matter if we use it or not.

A complex world leads to complex odds

We have built ourselves a civilization that allows us to reach magnificent achievements. And at the same time we have created an extreme complexity of systems impossible to predict. In result things happen, things we do not expect and things we are not prepared for.

While a person can prepare for many situations, he can’t prepare for all, as the possibilities of what can happen are limitless.

And as a person can’t be prepared for all, he can be prepared to deal with what odds life throws at him.

I call this person — the adaptable person.

The adaptable person knows what he doesn't know. He doesn't try to predict the unpredictable — he assumes what can happen and accepts it. He knows the risk of taking different activities — were they physical risks, business risks, social risks or the combination of them. Yet he still does them.

He learns how the world works — what to expect, what not to expect. What control he has over things, how can he maximizes and minimizes the outcome in some situations. This prepares him.

When and if something happens — he knows it’s not personal. He knows that things sometimes happen, driven by various reasons, including multitude of mistakes, but usually you can’t blame someone for it. And even if you trace-back, investigate and find the guilty, it won’t undo what have already happened.

I mean sometimes it suck. It can really knock you down on the ground. Obliterate your motivation and leave you diving into the core of philosophy questions.

Your business can fail. Your spouse can leave you. You can get hurt — lose limb or organ. Contract disabling illness. Someone close can perish. The list goes and it doesn't become less depressing. But that’s not the point.

The point is that…

At the end you it’s up to you.

Will you blame items, people, entities or deities? Or will you adapt and continue?

The events I listed are some of the most extreme ones. Usually far lesser ones occur in life. Things that you can shrug off and continue.

• Flat tire? Change it and continue on your path.
• Internet off? Check the modem, call the ISP.
• Server crashed? Check the logs, call the admin.
• Delivery lost? Call the company, check the tracking.
• A girl doesn't call you back? Wait more, call or meet another.
• Out of stock? Check for alternatives, preorder from the new stock.
• Stepped into mud? Clean it up. Plan your walking routes.
• Someone being rude? Ignore him and avoid him.
• Your banker seems incompetent? Switch him, or the bank.

Even trivial things such as those can deal a demotivating combo on us. Yet such things happen. Perhaps if you stay home and do nothing less of those can happen, but still — is that your goal?

Adapt and overcome

When you do things, when you are active, it is to be expected that things will happen. They have always happened and will always happen. We can’t control most of those odds. Yet when those things happen — we are still in control. We can chose.

And the choice is not always visible, especially when we are emotionally affected. But after that when we can see clearly — there is one. Usually the difference between despair and motivation is just a chemical one. The exact same situation looked from both perspectives can appear completely different.

The question is — what will you see — a dead end or a situation that awaits to be solved?

Remember, no great deed was achieved without meeting with surprisingly high number of bad situations — from minor to major and sometimes devastating ones.

And it took an adaptable person to adapt, overcome and achieve it.