There is a popular saying, simple but of overwhelming wisdom:  that bad days make us stronger and good days make us more humble .

It sounds good, but reality is often very different. Too often, we allow the exact opposite to happen: bad days break our will and make us fragile, while good days intoxicate us with arrogance. When things are going smoothly, it’s incredibly easy to fall into self-deception: to look around, puff out our chests, and think,  “Look at me, everything’s going well for me, I’m the best. I don’t understand why others aren’t producing the same. Being on top is so easy, why can’t they reach my level? “

That’s where the blindness of arrogance comes in. We forget that we didn’t start the game from the same point.

Personal success or simply received abundance?

The intelligence with which you analyze your projects, the health that allows you to get up every morning, the stability of the country where you were born, the network of contacts that opened the first doors for you… none of that you built from scratch in a vacuum.

Just look at those who live with severe physical or cognitive limitations, or those born under oppressive regimes where individual effort is crushed, to understand an uncomfortable truth:  you are not a superman, you are privileged.

Talent and opportunities aren’t given to us to sit at the top and judge others, but to act as true stewards. Nothing you have is entirely yours; they are tools placed in your hands to share, to serve, and to pave the way for others. The real question isn’t why you received so much—the answer is simply the generosity of life—but  what  you received it for.

What truly builds the summit

And what happens when the wind blows against us? The temptation to take dishonest shortcuts, resentment, or despair lurks around every corner. When projects go awry, we get angry at the world or try to trample on others to keep our heads above water.

But sustainable success has never been a matter of luck or strokes of chance. With very few exceptions, no one achieves prominence in anything—be it the best athlete, the most brilliant architect, or the most prosperous entrepreneur—without enduring a period of hardship. Behind every impactful story lie years of toiling in obscurity, precipitous falls, and unwavering patience.

The golden rule for life

Life balance boils down to a very clear stance towards circumstances:

• In prosperous times:  Massive doses of humility. Recognize that you are merely a conduit of gifts, stay grounded, and help as many people as you can.

• In dark times:  Ask for and cultivate strength, faith, and resilience. Don’t seek the easy way out or the trap; embrace the struggle.

At the end of the day, the goal is simple: stay strong when everything fails, stay small when everything shines, and do all the good you can.