Anyone who has ever accomplished something in life has had their own challenges & setbacks – because anything that’s worth doing will be difficult. Thus, it is vital to overcome adversity to move ahead on the path of greatness.
Philosopher Edmund Burke asserted, ‘He who wrestles with us strengthens our nerves & sharpens our skills. Our antagonist is our helper’. No doubt, life is the worthy opponent – the antagonist – as it helps us grow. When you have the right/ apt tools to overcome adversity/ hardships, you embrace the situation as a helper instead of letting it stop you from accomplishing your goals & fulfilling your dreams.
So, think about the last time you had to overcome adversity. How did you do it? What did you do differently? Now, think about a time when someone you admired overcame hardships in their life. How did they do it? What can you learn from the way they handled the situation? Can you apply one of those lessons in your life?
Probably yes!
See, everyone faces adversities at some point in their lives. But here’s nothing to worry about! There are ways to overcome adversity & today we will discuss about the same. So, make sure you stick with us till the end!
What Is Adversity?
The definition of adversity is a troubling situation or hardship. There are six kinds of adversities that one might encounter in their lifetime. They are:
- Self-doubt
- Physical injuries/ illnesses
- Poverty
- Rejection
- Losing a loved one
- Struggling hard to succeed in your career
Despite the plethora of advice we get from friends, family, self-help books, the internet, etc., overcoming adversity is a procedure. It isn’t always resolvable in the blink of an eye.
Everyone is different. Therefore, the coping mechanisms that work for one person won’t necessarily work for another.
What Happens When Adversity Strikes?
When adversity strikes, it’s best to have several things in mind.
The first is to let go of your expectations. Your previous plans are gone & they aren’t coming back. So, holding on to them won’t help you move forward in life; they will only drag you down. Plus, you can’t even expect things to work out as planned. Your present situation is proof of that! Life is full of surprises & sometimes they do have a negative impact.
However, those negative things are sometimes out of your control. Even if you have everything planned, some things will still change. And that’s completely fine! Accepting change is hard but necessary in the face of adversity. It will help in your personal development, thus increasing your resilience.
This is the type of positive mindset you must adopt when experiencing adversity. Obviously, a mindset full of self-pity & rejecting moving forward never helps!
Also Read: How To Control Your Mind
Tips To Overcome Adversity
Overcoming adversity might be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Here are the tips to overcome challenging situations & excel in them like a pro!
- Be Prepared
Working on overcoming adversity happens even before tough situations occur. So, train your brain to be resilient by building inner strength & developing a growth mindset. In addition, examine your limiting beliefs to uncover what’s holding you back. Develop a support system, too, to fall back on.
When the time comes to dig deep & uncover how to overcome adversity, you will be prepared. So, get into doing your work & use your inner strength to handle the situation. This becomes easier as you prepare yourself more.
- Stop Making Excuses
Elaborate excuses & denial are two common responses to failure. We must first acknowledge our disappointment & our role in creating it when adversity strikes. Only then will we be able to beat it!
Even if it isn’t your fault, pinning the entire blame on someone else won’t even get you far, either!
- Write
Sometimes, it’s freeing to write down your thoughts on paper. Writing/ journaling allows for self-reflection & self-expression in a safe, private space.
You can write about whatever is weighing you down. And after a while, you will be able to look back on those tough times & see how much you have learned.
- Change Your State Of Mind
Your thoughts define you. When you expect failure or disappointment, you usually experience it. This is a psychological phenomenon & is called a self-fulfilling prophecy. In other words, what you anticipate tends to happen.
So, training your mind to view situations differently can offer you a different result. Know the value of positive self-talk & visualization. Incorporate them into your daily routine & witness the difference!
- Stay Disciplined
It’s common to feel like your life is out of your control. Practicing habits like yoga, meditation, physical exercises, mindful breathing, scheduling short breaks at work, & ensuring you eat properly is a sure-shot way of preparing your body & mind for overcoming any challenges around the corner.
- Use Your Sense Of Humor
Laughter is the best medicine, specifically for your mental health. When you laugh, the hormones triggering stress reactions calm down, thus boosting the effectiveness of your immune system.
Laughing quite literally drives changes in brain activity too. Your body creates gamma waves which aid your natural healing processes, resulting in long-term mental fitness & positivity.
Thus, finding ways to inject some humor at work or home can be quite helpful. Laughter will uplift your mood & others around you as well.
- Have Faith
Do not sink in fear or self-pity. Believing in yourself that you can take up a specific task at work or go on some adventurous & risky trips will help you stand firm & strong. So, just have faith & begin your journey to know the unknown.
- Let Your Success Energize You
No matter how big or small, celebrate your accomplishments. You deserve it & it will only help establish a sense of empowerment & self-confidence.
You must know that successful people take time to celebrate their victories, irrespective of how minor they are.
- Spend Some Time In Nature
Nature is a natural cure for troubled & restless souls. Rest & self-care often end up as our last priority.
However, taking out a little bit of time for walking, strolling down the streets, or hiking/ trekking can significantly reduce stress levels. You can enjoy & rest as long as it recharges your body!
- Surround Yourself With People Having A Positive Mindset
You can tell a lot about someone with whom they spend time with. Moreover, you can be the most resilient & ambitious person in the world, but positive feelings only last when they aren’t surrounded by negativity.
See, human beings are social animals. We act according to other people’s opinions & reactions. Thus, focusing your energy on people with negative thoughts will definitely inhibit your personal development.
Adversity Might Bend You, But Won’t Break You!
Frustration & failure always lurk in the shadows. But these challenging times serve as valuable life lessons regardless of their heaviness. These lessons include perseverance, a positive mindset, adaptation to change, etc.
Thus, without adversity, there’s no opportunity for growth or resilience. Adversities or hardships teach us about ourselves, about being uncomfortable in a specific situation & offer us strength to endure. Without it, we might never discover our inner strength.
So, learning how to overcome adversity isn’t easy at all, but you have the power to transform yourself into the best version of yourself! Incorporate the tips given above in your life & visit our website RILC Academy for more information. It’s time to make a positive life turn!
