In the Face of Adversity

Just because nobody has it easy

I was watching a Donald Trump interview a few years ago when I heard him say that it’s not been easy for him. He talked about his dad doing him a small loan of $1,000,000. I couldn’t help but scoff at this. I analyzed it from different points. You have access to a million dollars and it’s difficult for you? But that was just me. If Donald Trump thought that was his hardest time, divorce came; bankruptcy came, and 2020 came.

I read about Keanu Reeves and the fact that John Wick could’ve just been a page in his real life. He lost his child at birth and his wife to a car accident — and he’s dyslexic… Wow!

By now you can see that I’m trying to point out a fact. Adversity is part of life. Everybody goes through that rough patch, and not just once. The rough patches keep showing up from time to time, and we gotta deal with them. Every time!

Since adversity is a norm, the real question becomes what are we to do in the face of adversity?

1. Be aware — Mindfulness can not be over-emphasized here. The degree to which we grow in our hard times will be in direct proportion to how mindful we are. We have to see adversity as tests and not punishments — even if our mistakes and indiscretions put us there.
2. Learn — Since we see them as tests, the next thing we are to do is to learn. If you are mindful, then you probably already know what aspects of your life to need to work on. It could be your negotiation skills, your ability to say no, your ability to ask for help, telling the truth, cultivating and practicing gratitude, or opening up to someone. During adverse times, we are called upon to strengthen parts of our character, and when we pass these tests; we feel lighter (even when we are not at the end of the tunnel yet)
3. Practice the backward law — The more you negate negativity, the more negative it becomes. Perhaps I will write a full article on the backward law, but for now, here’s how it works. Experiences based on consciousness (happiness, freedom, etc) move away from us the more we want them. Because by affirming that we want them, we reaffirm to our mind that we don’t have them and our mind creates more of that which we don’t have. By accepting a negative situation, your mind is relaxed and willing to progress, and that creates more experiences to help you relax — experiences you will then term as good. Does it make sense?

Conclusion

The mind gives us more of what we think and feel. Since adversity will come to everyone, then our job is not to escape but accept it as a learning curve and act accordingly. It’s just a rough patch and nothing more — learn from it and let it slide.

I’ll end by asking you NOT to think of a pink elephant. Too late, right? The Elephant is already in your head and try as you might, you can’t get it out. However, once you stop trying to get the Elephant out of your mind, you won’t even notice when it’s no longer there.

When we master this, we can literally say to adversity, “In your face”.