Overcoming AdversityChapter 6, Lesson 1

Strengthening Your Resilience

Triumph over adversity through a better sense of resilience.

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The primary goal of resilience is to develop skills to help you triumph over adversity and failure. You’ve reached the final chapter of the workshop. Great job! In this lesson, you’ll learn about overcoming adversity.

Adversity

Adversity is a part of life that nearly all people have to deal with at some point. It is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “a state of serious or continued misfortune.” When faced with adversity, it is natural to feel emotions such as anger, grief and sadness, even if you are resilient. Being resilient allows you to triumph over adversity while continuing to function physically and mentally. These tips can help you be resilient while handling adversity.

Believe in yourself The first thing you must do in order to overcome adversity is to believe in your ability to do so! If you need a refresher on how to increase your confidence, look back at Chapter 3.

Be empowered Think of yourself as a survivor rather than a victim. It is common for people who struggle with resilience to maintain a “victim” mentality. This is when someone feels like the world is out to get them and no matter what they do it “always happens to them.” If you’re one of these people, it’s time to become empowered! Reflect back on all you’ve been through and continue to deal with and think about how it has made you a stronger, better person.

Understand that setbacks are a art of life It is impossible to go through life without experiencing a setback. To stay resilient, remember that setbacks are inevitable. For example, if your spouse loses his or her job, recognize that unemployment can unexpectedly happen at any time.

See challenges as opportunities While all of life’s experiences aren’t pleasant, they serve as opportunities to help you learn and grow. Reframing your perspective on challenges in this manner can help you more easily overcome them rather than letting them bring you down. In the context of the example above, loss of a job can provide an opportunity to find a better employment experience.

Take ownership of your responsibility Yes, some adverse events are out of your control, but there are some which you may have contributed to. Owning up to your role in the situation can help you to better handle it. For instance, if you have a conflict with a family member and don’t see eye to eye, you’ll never be able to overcome your differences without acknowledging your role in this situation.

Forward thinking can help overcome adversity

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Next Steps1. Watch Lesson 2: Success is a Continuous Journey

2. Take the Chapter 6 Quiz

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Take action! One of the best ways to develop a sense of gratitude and to witness the strength of others is through volunteer work. It can also help you increase your self-efficacy and help you find a sense of purpose. There are many places you can volunteer. Check with your township, community center, place of worship or local non-profits or schools for opportunities. You can also find volunteer opportunities through the following websites: VolunteerMatch.org | RedCross.org | Idealist.org | HandsOnNetwork.org

When life hands you lemons… Make lemonade! Turn a negative situation into a positive. Rather than letting a troublesome situation defeat you, use it to make yourself stronger and fuel your ability to triumph over the situation. For example, if you are faced with a serious medical diagnosis, use it as an opportunity to focus on your health and well-being to become a healthier and stronger person.

Become inspired Do you know someone who has overcome a lot in life? Use their experiences to inspire you to overcome adversity in your own life. If you don’t know someone directly, there are many books, movies and stories of historical figures, athletes, authors and others who have overcome great odds to be successful.

Don’t dwell on the past Becoming hung up on past mistakes and situations can decreased your

confidence and produce feelings of hopelessness. While it is important to acknowledge lessons learned from past events, use them in the context of moving forward into the future.

Be grateful for what you have Gratitude impacts resilience in many ways. Celebrating your achievements, acknowledging all of the positive aspects and people in your life, as well as simple appreciation for each day can be very helpful when you’re faced with adversity.