It’s not enough to overcome adversity. We need to learn from the experience, gain strength from it. Use it to grow. Thrive on it, not be diminished by it.
Very often, the first stage of overcoming adversity can open doors to new opportunities, challenge us to change direction.
If we don’t rise to that challenge, we have merely survived the adversity, not used the experience of overcoming a hurdle to propel us to a better future.
My experience of surviving a difficult period in Zimbabwe, led me to a new life in Canada. Later, surviving a heart attack created an opportunity to develop a speaking and writing career. That led to writing a book.
A brilliant example of thriving on adversity and using it to launch a new career is contained in Cait Lynch’s story about contracting Lyme Disease and how that experience led to a major change in her life and business. Read her post here, The Gift of Lyme Disease, you will never think about ticks the same way again.
For more on not just overcoming adversity, but thriving on it, I highly recommend “The Obstacle is The Way” by Ryan Holiday.
Too often we just think about surviving by avoiding adversity or if we have no choice, overcoming it, then relaxing and accepting the new situation.
What if we used the gifts hidden in that experience to thrive on it?
What do you think?
hurdle graphic by Stuart Miles / freedigitalphotos.net
Thank you, Peter. I appreciate the share and you!
Great post and great article/post Cait shared. I believe that adversity makes us stronger and better human beings.