After getting shot, how could Teddy manage his composure, let alone deliver a speech? If you would have met Teddy in his childhood, you would have seen an asthmatic boy with a weak body due to frequent illnesses. Could you have guessed that he would grow up to become a military Colonel and a great US president?

With his family’s encouragement, young Teddy was always trying to get better. He could have accepted his physique as it was, but he rather accepted the responsibility to change it. Not only did he adopt regular physical activity to overcome his weakness, but also made hard work a way of life, famous for finishing tasks way before deadlines. This mindset helped him when he got shot as well.

While the current mission already helps you achieve some of this mindset, there’s a question that we would like you to add to your toolset.

Asking the Right Questions

Questions are powerful. But be careful of what you ask yourself because it can shape your actions.

When you face tough situations, either you can ask either “Why?” or “What?” And this subtle difference can make a huge impact on your mindset. Questions like “Why did this happen to me?” can sometimes help you find answers, but they fail badly in the face of life’s randomness, like the loss of a loved one. Such “Why?” questions can leave you feeling helpless. And it is in these moments that we want you to rather ask “What can I do about it?” A “What?” question like this cultivates a mindset of responsibility and control. It tells us that we are going to make the most of the cards we are dealt by life.

When Teddy got shot, he could have asked himself, “Why did someone do this to me after years of service for the nation?” In response, maybe he would have cried or lost faith in humanity, but none of these would have helped him do better. So, instead, asking “What can be done now?” led him to the best path. He checked his wound, realized that it was not fatal, and went on to do the essential task of delivering his speech. Such a boss!

What will you ask the next time to make the most out of a tough situation?