Most people are terrified of being bit by a poisonous snake.
There is a valuable lesson that can be learned by being metaphorically bit by a poisonous snake that can actually improve your life.
The story is told by Zarathustra, the main character in Friedrich Nietzsche's book “Thus Spoke Zarathustra.” Zarathustra tells his story of being bit by a poisonous Adder snake to his followers (Nietzsche, pg. 64). Zarathustra said that he was sleeping one day and was awakened by a snake bite on his neck.
Zarathustra said “as yet hast thou not received my thanks. Thou hast awakened me in time; my journey is yet long. The snake said that his” journey was short, because his poison was deadly.” Zarathustra said while smiling, “when did ever a dragon die of a serpent’s poison? But take thy poison back. Thou art not rich enough to present it to me.”
This is a parable that shows how a person can use suffering and hardship as an advantage for themselves. Suffering makes up a large part of a person’s life. We all suffer every day; mentally in school, emotional pain in relationships, setbacks at work, physical pain while exercising, struggles in parenting, etc. However, a person can find some meaning or value in their suffering. By finding meaning or a lesson in suffering, you can lessen or remove the pain involved in that suffering.
For example, if you are dating someone who is taking advantage of you financially, you can be thankful that they showed you that they are not a partner that you want to be with. This is a more positive and empowering way of viewing the situation. Typically, most people would be angry, sad or resentful that this occurred with their partner. However, viewing it this way only causes a person to view the situation from a victimized and negative perspective. Also, intense feelings of anger, resentfulness, or sadness allows the harm that the person caused to have power over the person who suffered the harm.
Remember that you control your response and perspectives to the events that occur in your life. Being thankful for the lessons learned from suffering and hardships that will inevitably occur in your life can help you to be more empowered and bounce back from such suffering.
References:
Nietzsche, Friedrich (1883). Thus Spake Zarathustra, pg. 64 Wordsworth Editions Limited.