Monday, January 12, 2009

Get your Boxing Gloves

The only way we as human beings can measure our progress in life is how we deal with adversity. Adversity is described as a state of hardship or affliction; misfortune or, a calamitous event in the Webster dictionary. Basically the downs of life's ups and downs. Or some may call it a "bump in the road" the thing about adversity is that it defines a person. Some people will roll over and play dead others look adversity in the face and fight it. What I mean by how we measure ourselves is that when we roll over, we give up. We let the problems of life take a toll on us; we become bitter and weak. We never forgive others or ourselves when we let adversity win.

When we fight it we grow. We become stronger and we start to say what we can or cant do, and that is a big deal. If we get into adversity and get out of it when the next adverse situation arrives we say to ourselves, "Well, this isn't as bad as last time" or "I have done this before." We are always putting it to the test. I had a mentor say one time when you become uncomfortable you are growing. In dealing with adversity you have to be willing to grow and change. Adversity is making you stronger than you were before. You have to fight it. You have to work your way through it. You have to keep going.

The thing about adversity that makes some want to roll over an play dead is the fact that adversity is simply change in the making. Since people fear change they fear adversity. I will be the first to admit that adversity is no fun at all. Who in their right mind wants to be uncomfortable? We as humans strive on homeostasis, or balance. This unbalance can occur in several ways, it can be heartache, death, trauma, or even a bad diagnosis. When these things arrive at our doorstep, we have to answer the door, then go back in the house and get our boxing gloves.

You have to say to yourself, I will not let this beat me. I have done this before and I will do it again. You may get tired and you may become weary, but change is not always bad. Sometimes it is looking to the future and letting go of the past that will pull you through. Sometimes it is discovering that you are stronger than you thought you were, or that you have everything that that person shared with you to take you through life. Facing adversity will be hard, but look to your friends, hobbies, or family to help you through.

You will make it if you keep going,
Amie Barr, MA