The don't-sweat-it-you'll-be-able-to-connect-the-dots-in-hindsight approach to life is both forgiving and encouraging in an almost avuncular way, especially when you're going through a period of intense personal turmoil that accompanies rejection. But then again, it suffers from a heady dose of survivorship bias.
And so the question begs, how do you know that you're on the periphery of a cul de sac, and all you need do is retrace your steps and begin with a clean slate? (This would definitely not have augured well for, say, an Airbnb. Then again, languishing in mediocrity or persisting in a stagnating job is like a slow death.)
It does feel a bit trite, but it lines up just fine with the classics:
Military tactics are like unto water; for water in its natural course runs away from high places and hastens downwards.
So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.
Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing.
Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.
He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain.
And so the question begs, how do you know that you're on the periphery of a cul de sac, and all you need do is retrace your steps and begin with a clean slate? (This would definitely not have augured well for, say, an Airbnb. Then again, languishing in mediocrity or persisting in a stagnating job is like a slow death.)