In baseball, each team has its own fans and supporters cheering it on to victory. When a team loses a game, its fans are naturally disappointed. A series of defeats will likely frustrate them even more, and they will lose interest in the team, switching their allegiance to another one. The players themselves, however, will persevere; the loyalty they feel towards their team is more enduring and will withstand the letdown of defeat.
This idea is relevant to the study of the human personality and how it deals with frustration and adversity. There is a personality similar to that of the team fan. When confronted with adversity, this character type will generally attempt to avoid it, often behaving in an undisciplined and inconsistent manner. He will often change his course of action so as to escape from whatever causes him frustration and dissatisfaction.
By contrast, another personality type exists, similar to that of the player. Regardless of what happens in his life, he will persevere and put forth his best efforts to make things work out. Such individuals regard everything that occurs to them as part of a constellation of events designed for their betterment.
It goes without saying that the latter personality style is indicative of a well-integrated person capable of meeting adversity head on. His ability to maximize the gain from all situations, even those fraught with difficulty, lies in the recognition that they too are replete with opportunities for character development and refinement. These challenges, when viewed as opportunities, will serve to elevate both the individual and his environment.
Told by the Rebbe to Shimshon Stock in 5715
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