It makes human sense that our experiences shape our lives and our thoughts. We have ups and we have downs, good days and bad days. Sometimes we feel that life isn’t fair and that we were dealt a bad hand of cards.
I recently heard a quote that stopped me in my tracks: Adversity, the speaker said, introduces a man to himself. It made me think about the downs in my life and I had an aha moment. The downs are what made me grow!
It is easy to be happy and content when you experience good times. When things run smoothly and according to plan. But when I trace my own growth steps, I can honestly say that every one of them was taken during times of challenge and uphill. Those were the times when I was forced to make new plans, sometimes and about-turn, work harder and pool all my resources.
I realised that the real challenges in life come when we get knocked down. It is easy to get stuck at these points; to feel sorry for yourself and wallow in the misery of life’s unfair treatment.
I know of a man who cannot get over a divorce and chose revenge to dominate his thoughts. He doesn’t see that he is digging his own grave and that he keeps himself stuck in a negative attitude that blocks healing and growth. Let alone the possibility of new relationships.
How you handle adversity, determines your growth. Evaluate where you are and honestly ask yourself:
- What brought me here?
- What role did I play?
- What did I learn or am I learning from this experience?
- How can I move on? And perhaps most importantly:
- Do I want to move on?
When adversity strikes – and the misery has lasted long enough – smile at the person in the mirror, accept that life is not fair and be thankful for the challenge to grow. Stand up to yourself and devise your plan to make you a better person.
