In this article, I compare the “burning” process used by the steel drum, a.k.a. “pan,” builders of Trinidad to build their beautiful, happy-sounding instruments, to that of people going through the heat of adversity in life. It’s a necessary part of the building process for both pan and people. It’s actually good for you.
Burning
After a pan builder has completed the first four major steps to building a Pan: Stretching, Mapping, Grooving, and Cutting, they subject the pan to a rapid heating and a cooling process known as “burning the pan.”
Traditional pan builders place their drums face down onto the coals of a fire until the drum’s metal becomes very hot, at which point they quickly cool the drum down with cold water. The rapid heating and cooling of the drum hardens or “tempers” the metal, helping the notes on the pan to hold their shape and retain their pitch.
Why Adversity is Good for You
As the old saying goes, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
Obstacles, setbacks, and challenges (the heat of adversity) are inevitable in life. You can’t escape adversity – but you can learn from it and become stronger in the process.
The act of working to find solutions to life’s challenges, whether you succeed or fail, “tempers” you as you gain experience and self-confidence. These qualities build your resilience when confronted with future challenges.
The Heat of Adversity
Last year, the company where I had worked for almost twenty-five years was sold to a much larger company. Then I was laid off.
Talk about the “heat of adversity!”
To be totally honest, it’s been stressful for Sandy and me, as are all major life changes. But I can also say that I’ve learned a lot about myself over this past year, and as a result, I’ve grown as a person.
After a lot of soul searching, I decided not to look for a job with another company, but instead, to do something that I have literally wanted to do for most of my adult life – to start my own business.
This led to the birth of Creative Pandemonium!
Temper Your Pan
Why am I telling you this?
Because I don’t know if I would have had the courage to start a risky, new business venture if I hadn’t overcome past adversity: divorce, bankruptcy, and some major health issues.
My past adversity has “tempered” me and made me more resilient. Those experiences have given me the strength and confidence to take on a major new venture because I’ve gotten through major adversity in the past, and I know that I can do it again.
The adversity of the COVID-19 pandemic has literally affected every single person on the planet. We all share that same adversity and the huge impact it has had on lives, families, economies, and cultures. It has permanently changed the way that we live our lives now and in the future.
But we will get through it. The experience has “tempered us” and made us stronger and more resilient going forward.
Adversity is a part of life. The experiences gained from going through the heat of adversity “tempers” you, making you more resilient, stronger, and better equipped to deal with future challenges.
No wrong notes,
Mike
I hope that this post has inspired, motivated, or educated you in some small way. If so, please consider joining the Creative Pandemonium community. It’s free – click “Join the Band!“
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