ADVERSITY. It is one of those words that everyone knows but nobody wants to know. And when we are facing it, it does not appear to be a friend. The reality of life rings true – adversity is what defines us. I’m a strong believer that hardships, trials, obstacles, and heartache train ordinary people for an extraordinary life. The key to overcoming the adversities in your life has nothing to do with skill or education or financial success, the key lies in your ability to persevere.
My dad used to say that the strongest trees have endured the most storms. It is all about what we’ve been through and how we handle it. At some point in every person’s life, tragedy will hit. It isn’t a question of if but of when. How we prepare for it makes all the difference in how we handle it.
Did you know Bill Gates’ first business called Traf-O-Data failed; and yet he is considered one of the richest people in the world. Stephen King’s first novel was rejected 30 times. Today he has sold over 350 million books. Thomas Edison failed over 1000 times before creating the light bulb. Oprah Winfrey was physically and sexually abused as a child. J.K. Rowling, famous author, was a single mom living on state benefits.
Successful people face adversity head on. Nelson Mandela stated, ” I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
The other day I spent time with a friend who has seen more difficulties in life than anyone I know. Her philosophy of life? “You get out of life what you put into it.”
We all get discouraged. We all face times when we want to quit; when we wish we could do something over; when we think we cannot possibly keep moving forward. There is a Chinese proverb which states, “When fate throws a dagger at you, there are only two ways to catch it, either by the blade or by the handle.”
Overcoming adversity happens when we are determined to see it as a blessing. It can be one of the greatest challenges in life; but, when we confront it and overcome it, we become an expert in perseverance. It isn’t about how many times we get knocked down, it is all about how many times we get up.
“Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.” – African proverb.
