Overcoming Adversity

Throughout life, we are all faced with some sort of adversity. Any time there is any hardship in life, big or small, a lesson can be found, and growth can occur in our lives.

It is in our nature, when something unfavorable happens, to be at a loss of what to do and have a feeling of regret, anger, confusion, or sadness. These are all natural emotions, and they are all valid.

The good news is, you can change the way you deal with unfavorable happenings!

Instead of letting yourself wallow in your emotions for too long, ask yourself: “what is the lesson?”

Could it be because you need practice in a certain area of life? If so, take this opportunity for self-growth and face it head-on! You could gain a new skill you never had before.

Could it be because you have a pattern that needs to be broken in your life? If so, go ahead and break it, and get excited for the new journey ahead!

A good example I always think of is when someone gets cancer. During the treatments and struggle to survive, people have an extreme battle going on, which can be a tough road. BUT, every single person I know who has survived cancer is a completely new person after the experience. They have a new appreciation for their life. I have heard numerous times that these people think of their cancer as the biggest blessing that ever came into their lives. Now it is gone, and they were able to change their life into a more meaningful, fuller, healthier, happier life.

Sometimes it takes a moment of adversity to really change something in an individual’s life for the better. So, next time you are faced with a tough situation, ask yourself what the lesson is and embrace the growth opportunity.

Nichole Lindroth Bontrager