The Optimists

I'm currently reading 'Good to Great' by Jim Collins. Half way through the book I came across a piece that I'd like to share here. Its about a prisoner of war, Admiral Jim Stockdale, who was captured and tortured times over in the Vietnam War and his story of survival over eight long years. The part that struck a cord with me was during the course of a conversation years later the good Admiral had with the author. Stockdale had written a book about his ordeal called 'In Love and War'. Jim Collins reports how depressed he felt just going through the book and despite knowing the outcome and wondered how much worse it was for Stockdale who couldnt know whether he was going to make it out at the time. Asked about this, Stcokdale replies "I never lost faith in the end of the story". When asked "Who didnt make it out?" referring to those who could not survive, Stockdale replies, "The optimists". They kept giving themselves false promises, saying they'd get out by Christmas, then Easter, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas again. They finally succumbed to a broken heart. "We're not getting out by Christmas; deal with it!"

Never lose faith of prevailing through adversity; but accept the brute reality and move on.