Stephen Hawking on Happiness and Expectation
Disappointment, failure, and tragedy feel like tiresome in-laws. But it’s better to invite them in for coffee than to kick them out.
A life of ease makes you weak. But don’t pursue difficulty. It finds you all by itself – just like falling down finds toddlers.
Hawking:
Doctors predicted Stephen Hawking would die in youth. He died on March 14, 2018. He was 76.
At the age of 21, he was diagnosed with a motor neuron disease that left him paralyzed. (A.L.S.)
Dr. Hawking gave his last public lecture on November 21, 2017.
He kept his humor. At the beginning of his talk he said, “I was born on January 8, 1942 exactly 300 years after the death of Galileo. However, I estimate that about 200,000 other babies were also born that day.”
Happy and paralyzed:
“After my expectations were reduced to zero, every new day became a bonus. And I began to appreciate everything I did have.” Stephen Hawking
“I don’t have much positive to say about motor neuron disease. But it taught me not to pity myself, because others were worse off and to get on with what I still could do.
I’m happier now than before I developed the condition.
I am lucky to be working in theoretical physics, one of the few areas in which disability is not a serious handicap.” Stephen Hawkins, NYT interview.
You face challenges. You want to change them. Perhaps it’s useful to let challenges change you.
Posttraumatic Growth:
Adversity and trauma change us in at least five ways.
- Greater appreciation of life and a changed sense of priorities. (Notice Hawking’s above comments concerning appreciation.)
- Warmer, more intimate relationships with others.
- A greater sense of personal strength.
- Recognition of new possibilities or paths for one’s life.
- Spiritual development.
How have the dark days of leadership/life changed you?
How might leaders get the most personal benefit from crisis or trauma?
Trial and tribulation is life’s refining fire that molds the character of a person. For me, its God’s megaphone into my life that helps me prioritize what is truly important.
Thanks Ned. I like the megaphone metaphor. Sometimes it feels like sandpaper. 🙂
Outstanding post. Relevant to all of us Dan. Thanks for posting!
Thanks Mike. Trust you are well.
When trials come (and we all seem to have them) we have two choices – to become better, happier, and more loving or to become bitter and angry. . . It’s always a choice. Brilliant, smart, happy people have made a choice.
A life of ease makes you weak…. I am currently leaving a very comfortable stage in my career and needed to hear this reminder as I take on a new role with a new team. Always enjoy your posts Dan, thank you.
In emergency services, we see that posttraumatic changes are inevitable. However, focusing on the positive (the five you listed above) can help some overcome/deal with some of the negative/long term impacts of the traumatic experiences. Thanks for the thoughts and post today Dan!
In many cases, adversity and trauma change people by making them fearful and defensive, or by taking away their physical abilities to protect and maintain themselves. In other cases, they rob people of their dignity and autonomy, or take away their fondest wishes and dreams.They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, but I’ve seen a lot of people who were weakened by trauma.
I appreciate this post. As a professional working through PTSD, it is easy to focus on negative changes disability and trauma can have on your life. Thanks for the reality check!
“After my expectations were reduced to zero…” i love that, and relate to it. Great post and even love the photo Dan!
“A life of ease makes you weak” – first, well done Mandy, second what does this mean for long term employees and managers who rise by attrition not application? I prefer the ‘wild side’ but time and again see organizations rewarding those who have chosen the ‘life of ease’.
Great post, reminds me how my attitude can be shaped by who I look at. There are always those worse off, which leads to gratitude. I wonder if one of the other ‘gifts’ of A.L.S. to Hawking was changing how he thought of time. I know I tend to assume I’ll always have tomorrow, though I know it’s a very thin veil to eternity. Having moved to a place with seasons, we have become more aware of the passage of time, and how precious it is. We think “Oh, we’ll go skiing next week” and pretty soon it’s spring and the snow is gone.
I love to think and self-reflect upon my life. It is amazing how God has changed/transformed my life throughout the years. I can see how I have developed, grown and evolved into a new person. Like the song says, “many a tear has to fall…” It is not easy dealing with difficult times. Often, we think how will we ever get through this one? Sure enough, we make it through the struggle and life goes on. We become a better stronger people because of the struggle. As long as we are on this planet, we must find a way to overcome adversity.