Easily Overcome Adversity in Life by Following These 9 Ways

Hardships, challenges, difficulties, adversity…call it whatever, but it is something we all face in our adult lives. These challenges or adversity in life are inevitable – if you ask me. No matter what road you choose, you are fated to cross adversity once at the least. There are times when life feels like a never-ending war but when you revisit those times, you see that it was just an opportunity to learn and grow better as a person.

I mean, can you agree with me when I say that at some point in life – mine started when I was in high school – we’re told that we’re not good enough? That we are not trying hard enough. These words are enough to put the strongest and most confident people in self-doubt.

It’s when you persevere and tell yourself that it is just adversity that you will overcome, do you get your confidence restored.

So, what is adversity? Why are we taught to face adversity and overcome it with enthusiasm?  

What Does Adversity Mean?

If I use the definition of adversity, it’d go something like this; “a difficult or unpleasant situation.” Expanding on it, I’d say that adversity is a situation that forces you to grow and learn. It can occur to anyone, at any moment in time, no matter what road you choose to take in life.

However, lucky for us, adversity is often short-lived, but when you keep stacking on it rather than overcome it, adversity can grow like a weed that is impossible to cut off.

Here’s an example; failing an important exam or being diagnosed with a disorder is a short-term adversity but being homeless or losing a partner or a spouse is a long-term adversity.

Adversity and hardships can come in different forms too! There could be;

• Emotional Adversity (Rejection, emotional dysregulation, etc.)
• Mental Adversity (Depression, memory issues, etc.)
• Physical Adversity (an injury)
• Financial Adversity (losing a job, debt, etc.)
• Social Adversity (bullying, losing friends, etc.)

The key to overcoming adversity in life is to reset your mindset and attitude. Adversity can be a challenge in itself but it’s not bad either. Yes, there could be benefits of adversity if you choose to look at them!

For one, facing adversity can help you learn perseverance and how to cope with change. It can offer an opportunity to grow as a person and provide a way to learn who you are in uncomfortable situations.

How To Overcome Adversity?

1. Stop Making Excuses

First things first, you need to stop making excuses for your current situation. You may have no control over what happened to put you in a problematic situation but you can control how you respond to it. See how your actions are affecting others and/or how they might’ve brought adversity upon them. Then take action.

2. Focus On The Positives

Look at the bright side, even if you can’t seem to find one. The worst thing we can do in adversity is to focus just on the negative. When you have only one perception, it can hugely affect your situation. Try to change your perception from negative to positive to truly win over the adversity you’re facing.

4. Reflect On Your Thoughts

This brings us here. You need to understand what’s going on with your thoughts. You can try journaling here to be in sync with your thoughts and feelings. It can also act as a therapeutic intervention. Journaling can also help greatly in reflecting on your current situation and how (or what)  you can learn from it.

5. Cancel Self-Doubt

There will always be a bunch of people in your life who will always have some opinion on whatever you’re doing. Opinions, especially others’, are never constructive and can only create more self-doubt. So, block them out, you block self-doubt. Try setting boundaries or practicing self-care to keep your spirits up in the face of adversity.

6. Celebrate Small Wins

Celebrating small victories is a part of self-growth that you should not ignore. Whether it’s a minuscule win or a big win, celebrating it allows you to build up your confidence and self-esteem. And at the heart of it, self-confidence and self-esteem are the ways to overcome adversity.

7. Hang Out With Positive People

Again, while negativity breeds negativity, positivity breeds positivity. Try to surround yourself with positive people or those who support you and push you to do better. These people can be a great help in fighting whatever adversity you’re facing. These are the ones who will be on your side whenever you feel defeated and push you to your victory.

8. Set Time For Yourself

Even in the middle of adversity, you need to set time for yourself. This time allows you to focus on your goals and see the way through adversity. Try to relax and engage in things that make you happy and boost your mood so you can keep going. You can try exercising, playing games, gardening, or dancing.

9. Set Goals To Work Through

Goals can help you persevere through any challenges you face in life. Now, goals are important but avoid setting unrealistic goals. That would be counterproductive. You need to set goals for yourself that are realistic and something you choose for yourself. Don’t set goals according to someone else’s wishes.

10. Try And Try Again

Adversity in life is inevitable, but this does not mean that you give up in the face of it. Whether it’s personal or professional adversity you face, overcome it and keep moving forward. Just because of one rejection or fall, you can’t give up. Maybe there was a better opportunity waiting for you but you chose to give up. No matter what, keep trying, no matter what you face.

Wrap-Up

Hardships and adversity can come face to face with you anytime, anywhere. But they could also provide an opportunity to review who you are as a person and where you are meant to be. Adversity in life can help you grow and learn to be a better person in life.

Of course, you can’t let adversity in life stop you from achieving your goals. These aforementioned strategies and ways to overcome adversity can help you in your life. Try them out and find the best one for you to keep moving forward in life, despite the challenges you face.

I hope this article will help you learn how to overcome hardships and adversities in your life. For more, you can write to us at info@calmsage.com or DM us on social media. You can also share your thoughts and tips in the comments section below.

Take Care!