Finished with face off

There’s a certain procrastination and even narcissism in merely facing up to something for too long without taking action. Think of it like staring at the mirror at that much reviled blemish on your face, constantly whining about how it does injustice to you.  Frankly, if you don’t contribute your part of the deal to do some action at facial damage control with the latest creams and gels, I’d think one fully deserves that big spot on one’s face.

Facing up to a problem is merely the initial step of removing one’s self-pity. However, if one just faces it and stares at it, then I’ll really wonder how much progress is made towards the journey out of whining. Sometimes not facing something doesn’t mean denial. It just means you have other things which you know you are capable of attending to, and you’d rather devote time and effort to something which brings about results. Maybe it’s because I’ve become too Singaporean in mindset, and result-oriented.

The difference between the two can be seen from the two Chinese phrases 面对 and 应对. The second suggests an extension of the first, a participatory element, regardless of what the results may be. In a game of monopoly where one gets jailed, 应对 actually means many scenarios. One may make an active move to pay the fine to get out and continue to proceed; or continue trying to throw a double whenever during one’s turn to try getting out free; or in the most extreme case totally withdraw from the game altogether. 面对 merely means sitting there watching the game continue one without making any move at all.

面对 is only one stop short of procrastination and imbecility on one’s part to cope, it is certainly nothing I’d boast about. 应对goes beyond this to suggest a maturity on one’s part to accept whatever happens regardless of the results, as I’d like to decipher “应对”’s “应” comes from the phrase “应该”, meaning what one deserves or what must happen ultimately. I’d much rather taking ownership and responsibility over myself than leave any opportunity to moan. At least it leaves one ultimately with no regrets, ya?