What does this quote mean to you?

Today's quote focuses on adversity, which Merriam-Webster defines as "a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune."

"Sometimes adversity is what you need to face in order to become successful." - Zig Zaglar

Human beings have a natural inclination to avoid or minimize any kind of hardship in their lives. In reality, though, we all need a dash of adversity every now and then to propel us to achieve something.

Here are some examples:

Being driven to lose weight after being teased by fellow peers
Starting one's own company after being laid off one or more times
Getting an A+ on an exam after initially struggling in a course
Supporting a child by oneself after his or her partner walks out
Finding true love after striking out repeatedly on the dating front

You can likely relate to at least one of the examples above. Sometimes we face challenges in life that seem almost insurmountable, thus resulting in depression, anxiety, and self-doubt.

But adversity itself can act as the fuel that drives us to achieve great things; it can serve as a catalyst for improvement.

If we didn't get Fs, putting us on the verge of failing the class, perhaps we'd always feel content with Cs. If the kids didn't make fun of us, it's possible we'd remain complacent being overweight our whole lives. When it comes to dating, you know what they say: "Sometimes you have to go through a few Mr. Wrongs to find Mr. Right."

Instead of seeing adversity as venomous, think of it as what will ultimately motivate you to effect change in a good way. But here's the kicker: You have to desire change and be willing to invest whatever time and effort is necessary to get results. If you aren't wholeheartedly committed to overcoming adversity, then it -- not you -- gets the last laugh.

If you think about it, life would surely be boring if we didn't confront challenges every once in a while. If everything was always perfect, what would we strive toward?

There's no better feeling than meeting adversity head-on and persevering through it. To get to that point, however, you must work hard, believe in yourself, and never give up.

What are your thoughts?

Please share this post with your friends, and to check out earlier entries, click here: How to Understand People

Comments

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n...

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it? After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...

This will spell the end of your relationship

When asked to think about the most common culprits for a relationship's going south, most people will point to cheating, complacency, and taking one's partner for granted. While these are all valid -- and documented in various posts on this blog -- there are certain habits on the part of partners that may not kill the relationship right away, but cause it to erode more gradually. Among the most egregious of these is expecting your significant other to be perfect. They pick at your follies any chance they get. Nothing you do is ever good enough. In fact, you will never measure up to an ex, neighbor, or accomplished co-worker. Perhaps this all sounds a bit familiar. When you feel as though you're constantly being put under the microscope, it can inflict lasting damage on the relationship and your self-esteem. You're walking on eggshells all the time, praying you don't say or do something that's going to trigger your partner. This is no way to live, let alone ca...

How To Understand People

Search This Blog