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 -- except to your closest intimates. Your words will have little effect on all 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 the public during adversity; it shows that your inner core is strong enough to withstand the current troubles, and suggests that your recovery will be complete. At the same time, talking openly to those you trust is equally important, for in times of calamity, talking is part of healing.
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.
