A quick preamble:
Yes, “I was there, I did that” too…in fact, nothing and no one born, created or raised on this planet, since the beginning of time, has prevented the very natural and absolute constant that we know as “Adversity”. .. the very stuff of life that, on regular occasions, throughout your life, will challenge you physically, mentally and spiritually…
… and very often all three areas at once, what will ‘make’ you or ‘break’ you… and If you accept the inevitability of adversity in your life and the choice it ultimately forces you to make, then surely you would only choose it to ‘make’ you… right…?
This well-known phrase, which was often quite annoying to me as a much younger and impatient person, I finally discovered to be the perfect definition of our old friend (enemy to some) “Adversity”:
“What doesn’t kill you will only make you stronger”
Come to the point:
The fuller definition written in the dictionary, expressed as a “noun”, is more like this:
“an adverse or unfavorable fortune or fate; a condition marked by misfortune, calamity, or distress…”
Gold… “an adverse or unfortunate event or circumstance…”
Typical examples might be: a tragic death in the family or a friend, your divorce, a car accident, a serious or even minor illness, suffering from a physical or mental disability, losing your job, failing an exam, overcooking (burning) the family meal, cooking the family meal poorly, getting a paper cut, getting a sunburned nose (happens to me often), hearing the constant barking of a neighbor’s dog, etc. etc. etc…!
All the adversities, all your challenges, big or small, health threatening or not, contribute to the type of character you eventually become, and if you want to be the truly happy and successful type, here they are. some tricks to learn, to make sure that your moments of adversity “It will only make you stronger”…
The 5 of the following tips, when used together (as I do), are a powerful way to deal with adversity to ensure you stay on your chosen path and achieve your goals for success…
– There is an end to every adversity…
Whether it’s a minor silliness, a slightly awkward situation or a harrowing and unforgettable moment of your life… all moments of adversity, all challenges of life come to an end… there is nothing you can’t overcome with time , perseverance and positivism.
Although you never forget it, you can get over it and learn from it…adversities are your teachers on the way to bigger and better things, as you move towards your life’s desires.
– Follow your instinct…
Stop listening to others and start listening to your inner self…always trust your instincts…you’ll be amazed how often that intuitive but persistent “inner voice” is right. it is a very effective weapon to fight against the wrong decisions for you and your chosen path ahead.
Other “opinions” in your time of adversity, while possibly well-meaning, don’t always mesh with how YOU feel you should handle the situation.
– Your goals, not your prisons…
The word “jail” is actually a very old, now mostly unused, ‘Middle English’ word meaning prison…!
So what I’m saying here is pretty simple… focus on your planned goals, not on the hard times you’re going through. that’s like choosing to stay in your filthy tiny prison cell even though the door is open and your exit is clear…!
Focus hard on the good that is left…trust me when I say, based on my own experiences, there is always something good to come out of ANY adversity and staying in the prison of that hard moment of adversity and living in the negative will NOT help you.
– Laugh whenever and wherever…
Time is a great healer, but laughter is more often than not, the BEST medicine for emotional pain trauma.
Find a reason to laugh (or at least smile) at something, at least once a day… there’s always something to read in a magazine or something to watch: on TV or live somewhere and in our technological age modern there are also many things you can do. take a look at the net.
YouTube is a wonderful source for movies and short comedy skits, but there are a million other places you can go to read or watch something that will lighten your mood and keep you in that all-important positive mindset.
From a personal point of view, any good old-fashioned slapstick has me rolling on the floor in tears in no time, and I especially find something by Laurel & Hardy or Charlie Chaplain particularly amusing…
One final anecdote:
You are never alone when you face life’s adversities…everyone, and I mean everyone, has to deal with them throughout life, but you don’t have to let any of them put you off. on your knees and follow you there.
You can go through and overcome any adversity if you understand that it is just another moment in time and another of life’s “trials”…learn to laugh, learn to cope, learn from life’s hard lessons and you will ultimately become more strong and remain the success you always dreamed you would be.
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Here is an excellent poem on the subject of LE Thayer called “For every hill I’ve had to climb” – perfect…
For every hill I’ve had to climb
For every stone that hurt my feet,
For all the blood, sweat and grime,
For blinding storms and scorching heat
My heart sings but a grateful song-
These were the things that made me strong!
For all the heartaches and tears,
For all the heartache and pain,
Through gloomy days and fruitless years,
And for the hopes that lived in vain,
I give thanks, for now I know
These were the things that helped me grow!
It’s not the smoothest things in life
that stimulates the will of man to live;
But grim adversity and strife
Do your best to keep the will of man alive.
On paths strewn with roses the weaklings crawl,
But brave hearts dare to climb the steep.
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