Keys to Overcoming Adversity
Everyone faces adversity.
In fact, it’s impossible to be human and not experience any bumps along the way. The good news is that when you handle one challenge, it helps you deal with things that come up in the future.
These are a few tried and true techniques to overcome adversity and move past it:
Accept that adversity is a part of life. There’s adversity everywhere, and there’s nowhere to hide. Sometimes bad things happen. There’s no way to avoid it. Accepting the situation is the first step to finding a way through it. Tell yourself that you’ll get through it, and the situation will get back to normal.
Focus on solutions. When faced with adversity, the first thing you’re likely to do is fret. This is natural, but worrying never solves anything. Anxiety only lowers your ability to change the situation. When things aren’t going well, take it as a sign to get busy.
Focus on what you can do to enhance the situation. Make a plan. What can you do right now to make a positive change?
Focus on the present. Avoid focusing on the worst possible outcome or beating yourself up about the current challenge. It’s possible you made a mistake or misjudged the situation, but the adversity is happening right now, so keep your attention focused on the present.
Set a goal. What outcome would you like to see and experience? Set a plan to make that desirable outcome happen as quickly as possible. Sometimes we scramble to make things better without thinking about what we want.
Relax. Stress and worry don’t contribute to a positive outcome. Learning to relax in stressful situations is a skill that takes time to develop. Relaxing will allow you to feel more comfortable and perform at your best. Too much stress is unhealthy and counterproductive. Stay busy working on your plan and breathe. It will be over before you know it.
Ask for and accept help. The world is full of people who would be happy to help. Avoid being too shy, proud, or embarrassed to ask for help. You’d be willing to help the people in your life, so give them the same opportunity. There’s no reason to struggle alone.
Focus on improvement. Rather than consuming yourself with the thought of getting the adversity entirely out of your life, focus on making regular progress in the right direction. Even if the situation hasn’t been completely resolved, you can be happy about your progress.
When faced with adversity, keep your focus on finding solutions. Having a goal and plan are essential components of bringing your life back on course.