Dictionary.com defines adversity as follows:
- adverse or unfavorable fortune or fate; a condition marked by misfortune, calamity, or distress:
- an adverse or unfortunate event or circumstance:
Adversity is a condition familiar to many of us and perhaps even more so in these uncertain and challenging economic times.
Over the past several months I have met with people who, sadly, have immersed themselves in their own misery by allowing only thoughts of doom, gloom, misfortune, struggle and distress to occupy space inside their heads.
Many years ago Robert Schuller, a renowned pastor, televangelist and author wrote a book, Tough Times Never Last but Tough People Do.
The premise of his book was quite simple; it reminded us that The Habit of Resiliency is one we need to lean heavily on when adversity finds its way into our lives.
At some point in each of our lives adversity will make an appearance.
As I listened to many of these folks share with me their limiting views of how narrow their choices were for a happy futures I couldn’t help but think of the famous quote attributed to Edmund Burke, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
In my mind, I rewrote that well-known line, changed a few words here and there and thought to myself that “the only thing necessary for the triumph of despair is for good people to believe in its inevitability.”
The Habit of Resiliency is the sworn enemy of adversity and is one we must absorb into our very being if we don’t want to hardship to stick around.
Resiliency means more than bouncing back. It means never allowing thoughts of defeat and hopelessness to enter our minds. Instead of focusing on what is, resiliency means focusing on what could be, and putting all of our energy into turning that “could be” into our reality.
It saddens me when I hear people talk of the feelings of hopelessness and the seemingly insurmountable difficulty of the challenges that lie ahead.
We have often talked about the fact that “everything we believe to be true is true… until it isn’t.” and as long as some people hold these desperate truths to be self-evident, their lives are doomed to a downward spiral of sadness, hopelessness and depression.
On the other hand, those who choose to believe that adversity is simply an opportunity in disguise and that regardless of the bleakness of a situation, we can and do have the means and capacity to rise above it and prosper, will grasp hold of The Habit of Resiliency with both hands and not let go.
And they will find a way of making the proverbial lemonade out of lemons.
We are self-energizing creatures and we can use adversity to fill our bodies with the slow, painful, soul destroying, overbearing types of energy that enhance our beliefs in the difficulties of our challenges thereby paralyzing and preventing us from seeking and creating a pathway back to happiness and fulfilment.
Or we can fill our minds and bodies with a powerful, determined energy and use this energy to inspire us to do the things that produce results that enable us to stand tall, feel good, and, most importantly, kick adversity in the body part that causes it maximum pain so that it scurries away, never to return.
The Habit of Resiliency is available to all and yet it is only grasped by a few. The fact that life can be unfair is just that, a fact and we will all be effected by it at some point. When that happens, when adversity reaches out and touches us, the true test of who we are begins and it is in this moment that those of us who hold on to The Habit of Resiliency will rise above the challenges before us and emerge at the other end better, stronger and happier than ever before.
When times are tough The Habit of Resiliency is the best friend we can hope for as it will guide our minds and spirit to the very places they need to be in order for our bodies to take the action and do the very things necessary to give us the lives we want and so richly deserve.
The Habit of Resiliency: Make sure it is beautifully wrapped and placed under your tree on Friday.
Merry Christmas.
Let’s make a habit of meeting like this.
P.S.
Finally, after months in the works, my company’s new website is up. Please take a moment and visit www.strategicpathways.net . Browse through this site and then click on the “Contact Us” tab or tellmemore@strategicpathways.net and let me know what you think.
Your opinion truly means a lot to me.
Thank you.
