I disagree. It lends perspective if you know that other people made it through worse times. Especially if those other people are your family or, in this case, ancestors. It makes your own problems and challenges look smaller, which lends you courage (for lack of a better word) to tackle your own challenges.

* I can't find a better English word for the Afrikaans "moed" which refers to not only courage, but something a little bit bigger and more holistic than courage.