Strategies to overcome adversity

Many of us are scared to take action because we don’t want to fail. We let fear paralyze us and prevent us from moving forward. Maybe it’s starting the next chapter of your life or a career change you’ve been afraid to make. If you’re anything like me, you probably want to know where the path leads before taking the next step. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that we can never truly predict the journey; we can only decide to take it.

Consider the pros and cons of moving forward

Remember your dreams and fight for them. You must know what you want from life. There is just one thing that makes your dream become impossible: the fear of failure.

—Paulo Coelho

Let’s say you’ve been wanting to write a novel, but worry that your book won’t be a success. So, you make excuses and keep putting it off. But think about it this way: what’s worse – rejection or regret?

You may be surprised to find that the possibilities are far more positive than you’d thought. Rather than letting fear drive you away from the opportunity, allow faith to draw you towards it.

Rewire your relationship with your inner critic

I think and think for months and years. Ninety-nine times the conclusion is false. On the hundredth time I am right.

—Albert Einstein

When you feel insecurity and doubt creeping into your thoughts, tell that little defeating voice inside your head to be quiet. Replace those limiting beliefs with new empowering ones.

For example, if you’re nervous about giving a presentation and start to think, “What if they don’t like it? I’m worried I won’t perform up to their standards;” change that thought to “What if they love my ideas? I’m excited to show them how hard I’ve worked.”

Forgive yourself

Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.

—Henry Ford

When we mess up, or disappoint someone, our natural reaction is to be hard on ourselves. Rather than learn and move on from these events, we beat ourselves up.

Instead, forgive yourself for mistakes you think you’ve made. And forgive yourself if things don’t change quickly enough. If we cannot show compassion towards ourselves, we sabotage our self-esteem and our ability to do better in the future.

Remember that all successful people face challenges on their way to the top

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

At some point, you will come to a crossroads when you can choose to either allow the challenge to hold you back or use it to propel you forward. It’s only the people who see failure as feedback who are able to move past the adversity in a much easier way. They get excited about challenges and don’t let life’s disappointments derail them.

When you fall, you need to get up and keep going. It’s in our failures, not our successes, that we learn the most about ourselves.

Rose Caiola
Inspired. Rewired.