Resiliency Lessons From The Chilean Mine Triumph

A worldwide web of viewers watched 33 miners being pulled to the
surface following a 600,000 ton cave-in that happened nearly one-half
mile below the ground on a barren plain in southern Chile. Besides
showcasing the tenacity of rescuers and the miracle of technology, the
miners themselves offer dramatic lessons in resiliency that anyone can
learn. If your business and/or personal life has taken a downturn or
if you can't seem to get over the tough times then these tips are for
you.Lesson one: Hope relies on possibility not certainty. Shift
foreman Luis Urzua practiced intelligent optimism when he reframed the
event and steadfastly refused to give up. He maintained his leadership
position and convinced the miners to eat only every 48 hours for 17
days. Without optimism, it could have been anarchy in that dark hole.
When the probe reached the men, Urzua's note that came to the surface
expressed that hope: "We are fine in the shelter, the 33 of us." This
is not a note of desperation but one of optimism.Lesson two: Action is
the antidote to anxiety. The miners stayed busy, continually clearing
away rubble, monitoring gas levels, praying, and using the materials
and medicine that eventually were sent down the shafts. In short, they
controlled what they could control.Lesson three: Play to your
strengths. Reports indicate that different men served different roles.
Victor Rojas kept a journal throughout the ordeal and became the
writer who sent updates to the rescuers. Yonni Rojas used his
experience in nursing to serve as the chief paramedic. Mario Heredia
and Jose Gonzalez became the spiritual leaders, with Mario even
requesting that a crucifix be sent down so he could erect a shrine.
Edison Villaroel led the group in song, requesting that Elvis Presley
songs be sent down. Imagine Elvis the Pelvis gyrating more than a
half-mile into the earth.Lesson four: Laughter lightens the load.
Surely bringing a load of rocks to the surface as a memento for
rescuers showed a sense of humor. Sing-alongs, as described by
reporters, did not appear to be funeral dirges.Lesson five: Faith can
move mountains. Many of these miners expressed a deep religious
conviction through their Catholic faith. Faith, however, is not the
sole property of one religious group. To have a sense of a power
beyond one's human limitations is to tap into a wellspring of
confidence and courage.Lesson six: Don't bounce back. Grow through.
After 69 days, many of the miners expressed that they found another
side to themselves and their lives. Changed men rose from the earth,
men who vowed to live differently. Whether marrying a long-time girl
friend, finding new comfort in family, or advocating for changes in
mining operations, each of the 33 now have the possibility of becoming
better and stronger through this ordeal.So it is for all of us who
face events that might seem as dark and crushing as what happened on a
cold day in Copiap�, Chile. The lessons offered by these 33 miners
might spark a chord to help many discover personal resiliency.� 2010,
McDargh Communications. Publication rights granted to all venues so
long as article and by-line are reprinted intact and all links are
made live.