Tips for Overcoming Adversity

​We’ve all had them – those days when you feel like life is trying to beat you down. Everything that could go wrong, does. Every decision you want to make has obstacles to overcome. Even simple actions become a tangled mess of complications.
 
Randy Pausch, author of The Last Lecture stated, “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” And this advice comes in handy when faced with those days that feel like everything is unravelling. Here’s a few tips to keep in mind when dealing with adversity of all sorts.

1. First step is the breath. Utilize whatever breathing technique works best for you, whether it is a few minutes of mindful breathing, rapid successions of inhalation followed by rapid exhalations, or simply imagining inhaling strength and exhaling negativity. The breath centers and grounds you so that you can gain more clarity on the adversarial situation that is rocking your world.
2. Consider your mindset. Are you having a pity party, sulking, feel like the victim in your own life? Or when life knocks you down, do you brush yourself off and pick yourself up? The key is mindset. If you view the setbacks, delays, disappointments and failures etc., as learning opportunities, there may be some valuable lessons to be gained. It’s all about converting the pain to personal value, and recognizing the potential for growth. Life doesn’t throw obstacles your way to crush you, they are there to increase your strength and resilience. Taking that approach will help when you feel beaten down.
3. Think about someone you know who epitomizes resilience. It could be a friend, mentor, favourite author or TV personality. Someone who you have seen in action, who remains calm in a crisis and problem solves his/her way out. Mirror that behaviour as you begin to problem solve your way out of any number of adverse situations.
4.  Digging your way up and out requires baby steps. Focus on the baby steps, which will help you prioritize and formulate a plan of action. Relish in the accomplishment of each step, and continue to champion your efforts. And when all is settling down, reflect back on how well you did!