Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.

Difficult times could create feelings of anxiety, insecurity, and fear. As we navigate through undesirable situations and uncertainties, we find that negativities surrounding the problems consume our mind. It is in those times that we have to exert ourselves to change our perspective and adopt a more positive and solution-driven attitude. Wise people have always chosen to leverage adversities as opportunities for growth and progress, rather than succumb to negative thought patterns. Saint Kabir described how different people respond when challenged by problems: “Gold, virtuous people and saints are resilient; you may break them a hundred times and yet they will re -join. In contrast, negative people and clay pots are fragile; once shattered, they are broken forever.”

The distinguishing feature of the successful is that they have a mind-set that enables them to remain positive in the face of adversity and even utilise the negative situation for their benefit. The eagle can teach us a few lessons on this. When the storm starts blowing, it does not cower down before it. It flies to a higher point and waits for the wind to blow over. When the storm sets in, the eagle spreads its wings and uses the draft of the wind to rise higher and higher in the sky. It does not run away from the storm, rather it uses the storm to its
advantage. While the storm rages below, the eagle soars above it.

The winning attitude to overcome despair and stress is to realise that adversities have opportunities inherent in them, and opportunities do not come without problems. Hence, difficulties and obstacles have a positive side to them as they make us grow from within. A gem gets polished with friction. The finest steel is produced by putting it in fire. Similarly, the more hardships we face, the stronger we become.