When in the throes of hard times, it is essential to be resolutely strong on the inside while remaining quietly cheerful on the outside, friend. Avoid too much talking -- your words will have little effect on others since your influence will be at a low ebb, and they will drain you of vital energy. Strong silence is the most skillful posture when facing adversity; it shows to others that your inner core is strong enough to withstand the current troubles, and suggests that your recovery will be complete.
Keep in mind that failure -- the final taboo in modern society -- is but one part of the inevitable cycle of life for those who dare to live fully and completely. Never to fail at all is to fail in the biggest way -- avoiding risk altogether, one cannot help but fall far short of what might have been.
