Adversity can shake us to the core, because it challenges our beliefs about ourselves and our place in the world. Life’s experiences, both good and bad, can teach us important lessons.
An easy life doesn’t help us to develop. Often it is the difficult circumstances we encounter that teach us the most. This can be hard to see when you are in the middle of a crisis. But as time goes on, you start to realize that each difficult moment was actually preparation for the next step or stage in your life.
When adversity is avoided or kept from us, it prevents the rich roots of character, learning, resilience, creativity, and conviction to germinate. Adversity plays a vital role in growth. No adversity, no growth. Instead of avoiding adversity, we need to embrace it as an opportunity to learn, develop, and grow.
And when adversity hits you again, there is a familiarity and a grasp of the learning you gain from adversity that pushes you through. And so on with the next one and the next one. Going through pain makes you more vulnerable, empathetic, and kinder because you experience something that changes your self-awareness, perception, and belief systems.
Adversity may show us that we are actually less important in the grand scheme of things than we thought or that things we thought to matter actually don’t.
Adversity makes you stronger. It gives us an opportunity to develop resilience. Resilient people are able to recover quickly from difficulties; bounce back from tough times; and learn to manage the stress, strain, and pressure that life chucks at us.
Adversity will change your priorities, helping you re-evaluate your value system. But you can only learn this if you go through adversity. This is the only way to build your adversity muscles. Each time that you do so, you become more resilient. You start to realize that you are much stronger than you initially thought.
The hardships and misfortunes you’ve been through can give you confidence that you’re capable of handling whatever comes your way. You’ve been in tough times before. How did you overcome adversity then? What got your through? Your past experiences can help you find inner strength and resilience.
They say laughter is the best medicine. It’s your body’s way of coping with stress, releasing tension, and resetting your brain to be more positive. A good chuckle will release endorphins and dopamine—nature’s feel-good chemicals. Sometimes stepping back from a situation can help to lighten your mood and allow you to move forward.
Remember in tough times that this is only one chapter in your life. Today is not your entire story, just part of your journey and experience.
Having a really clear understanding of what you want, and why you want it, can be a powerful force. Even when the odds are stacked against you, with this clarity you have the strength to face adversity.
The true winners in life are the people who can persist when times are tough. When it seems the whole world is blocking their path, they persist. The question is, how do you keep moving forward when the odds seem stacked up against you? The first step is to realize that you are in the same situation that every person who has ever accomplished anything finds themselves in.
No one’s path is easy. Life isn’t easy. We move every day from one problem or issue to another. It’s normal. Life without obstacles is not a reality. The wealthy business tycoon was once broke and inexperienced. The Olympic gold medal winner was once slow and clumsy. The amazing stage performer was once in a low budget show forgetting her lines.
Through adversity we can all become stronger; improve the quality of our relationships; and increase our self-esteem, confidence, and focus. Through adversity we learn to jump hurdles and navigate around roadblocks that would stop others completely.