We all face problems in our life that seem impossible to overcome and feel that we have no control over our life whatsover. Going through adversity happens to the best of us but you cant dwell on the negative experiences or you`re just going to end up being more upset than you would`ve been if you stayed positive. The true tests of life are not what your problems are, but they are the ways you went about overcoming them. Staying positive under adversity is a characteristic few people possess and can take a life time to learn. The most important thing to do when faced with a problem is to locate the source. What caused the negative thought or experience? Is there any way you can avoid the situation so it doesn`t happen again? Negative issues are a factor that take a toll on everything you do. It gives you the mindset that you can`t do anything right and keeps you from achieving the goals you have set for yourself. Most negative thoughts are only imaginary but when you have an outside source causing the problem, do whatever you can to overcome the issue. Write down specifically the problem you are facing and research ways that will help you achieve what you need to do. Study other people who went through the same battles as you are going through and get inspired by their attitude and perseverance towards the problem. Everything in life has obstacles, you need to realize that trials are all a part of the game and always keep focused on the specific goal you want to accomplish. A positive mindset is one of the best traits a person can have. You feel in control of your life and believe you will be successful at everything you do. Being positive will also lead to a more productive life that wouldn`t be possible if you kept abiding in the past. A good example of a positive person is bicyclist, Lance Armstrong. After suffering testicular cancer , he still had the determination to move on and finish his career with 7 Tour De France wins. If you are looking for an inspirational story, read about this man! Staying positive under adversity is a true test of maturity. It will make you stronger in the long run and all the battles you face in the future will seem painless because you`ve experienced tougher battles. Trials are like Basic Training for the military. Everything seems confusing and impossible at the beginning, but after time you start to gain discipline that will be used on the battlefield if the situation arises. It`s the same way in life. A positive attitude is the only way to achieving what you are looking for. Until next time, think positive!
Article Tags: Staying Positive Under, Positive Under Adversity, Staying Positive, Positive Under, Under Adversity
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
Article Tags: Staying Positive Under, Positive Under Adversity, Staying Positive, Positive Under, Under Adversity
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
From our first day on earth until our last, we face differentlevels of adversity. Adversity may be sickness, a propertyloss, or the loss of a family member. It may be a lost careerpromotion or a business setback. How we handle theseadversities defines how we achieve greatness in our lives.
Let me share the story of James Blake, who overcamemultiple adversities -- more than most of us would everexperience in a lifetime -- and yet achieved greatness. JamesBlake is a world class professional tennis player enjoyingfame and making a six-figure income. However, in hischildhood, he developed a rare disease that required him towear a body brace for years. Other kids teased him, callinghim “Iron Man” from the Marvel Comic Books, and he feltleft out. During this time, he concentrated on his academics,read a wide variety of books, and developed himself as awell-rounded person. He also developed a heightenedawareness for others who are going through difficult times.
Once he had the brace removed, he learned to play tenniswith an intense passion not exhibited by many other tennisplayers, because he appreciated the opportunity to finallyplay tennis. He didn’t take this opportunity for granted. Heattended Harvard and became the #1 player on their tennisteam.
As a promising professional player, adversity struck again.In 1994, while practicing for a major tournament, he slippedand fell forward striking his neck against the metal pole thatholds the tennis net. James’s doctor said that had James notslightly turned his head, James would have broken hisvertebra and become paralyzed from the neck down. Instead,he was hospitalized with a fractured vertebra, blurred vision,and dizziness.
While in the hospital, James did much soul searching. Manyfamily members and friends came by to offer encouragement,advice, and support. His coach was a constant bedsidecompanion and finally asked James, “Do you want to playtennis again?” James said “yes,” and they developed a planto start his comeback.
With the support of family, friends, and his coach, Jamesstarted his comeback step by painful step. At first when hetried to play tennis, he still had to overcome his blurredvision and dizziness. He had doubts whether he would everhandle the 125 mph plus serves of his opponents.
Then he suffered another setback. During his rehabilitation,his father, with whom he had a very close relationship,developed cancer and passed away. During his father’ssickness, James was by his side. After his father passedaway, James was devastated. However, he regrouped andcarried on with the support of his mother, family, friends, andcoach.
He returned to playing professional tennis, and there weremany more losses than wins. But he stayed focused anddetermined and progressively improved. He began playingthe top professional players competitively, and he beganwinning against the top players. Then he once again startedwinning tournaments. After this long journey, James becameone of the top players in the world.
What can we learn from James Blake’s journey throughadversity to greatness? The following are three keys tomaking adversity work for you:
1. If it Doesn’t Kill You, It Makes you Stronger
Many times we face adversities and say, “If only I can makeit through this.” It may be a sickness, loss of a loved one,job loss, etc. By remaining focused, determined, andconcentrating on the positive, many times you can becomestronger.
Parents are now sheltering their children against any littleadversity for fear it might be painful. I say allow yourchildren to “grow up” and stop sheltering them fromadversity. Teach them how to make adversity work for them.These adversities and the way they handle the adversitieswill define who they are and prepare them for challenges inthe future. Some of our greatest business leaders, scientists,engineers, inventors, humanitarians, and sport heroesbecame the people they are because they overcameadversity.
2. Adversity Often Develops Unknown Talents
Once the door of adversity closes one opportunity to you,the door of greatness often opens another. James Blake, firstduring his sicknesses and then after, developed hisawareness of helping other unfortunate people. Now heruns free tennis programs for disadvantaged children.Before his sickness, James was not known for hisconcentration and focus on the tennis court. After hissickness, he developed and became known for his mentaltoughness. When experiencing adversity, ask yourself,“What positive thing can come out of this?”
3. Adversity Rallies Your Resources
While James was sick, many resources arrived to help him.First, he had the time to step back to reflect on his life, goals,mission, and values. Second, he was able to obtain soundadvice from family, friends, and others that he might nothave been able to receive while traveling on the road. Hissetbacks allowed him to take time to summon resources(advice, help, etc.) he would not have realized if he had beentraveling non-stop. He made his “downtime” work for him.
When adversity comes, don’t avoid it; attack adversity withall your resources. The way you manage adversity willdefine who you are and ready you for future opportunities,because adversity can be your seed of greatness.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ed Sykes is a professional speaker, author, and success
coach in the areas of leadership, motivation, stress
management, customer service, and team building. You can
e-mail him at mailto:[email protected], or call him at
(757) 427-7032. Go to his web site,
http://www.thesykesgrp.com, and signup for his
newsletter, OnPoint, and signup for the newsletter, OnPoint,
and receive the free ebook, "Empowerment and Stress
Secrets for the Busy Professional."
Let me share the story of James Blake, who overcamemultiple adversities -- more than most of us would everexperience in a lifetime -- and yet achieved greatness. JamesBlake is a world class professional tennis player enjoyingfame and making a six-figure income. However, in hischildhood, he developed a rare disease that required him towear a body brace for years. Other kids teased him, callinghim “Iron Man” from the Marvel Comic Books, and he feltleft out. During this time, he concentrated on his academics,read a wide variety of books, and developed himself as awell-rounded person. He also developed a heightenedawareness for others who are going through difficult times.
Once he had the brace removed, he learned to play tenniswith an intense passion not exhibited by many other tennisplayers, because he appreciated the opportunity to finallyplay tennis. He didn’t take this opportunity for granted. Heattended Harvard and became the #1 player on their tennisteam.
As a promising professional player, adversity struck again.In 1994, while practicing for a major tournament, he slippedand fell forward striking his neck against the metal pole thatholds the tennis net. James’s doctor said that had James notslightly turned his head, James would have broken hisvertebra and become paralyzed from the neck down. Instead,he was hospitalized with a fractured vertebra, blurred vision,and dizziness.
While in the hospital, James did much soul searching. Manyfamily members and friends came by to offer encouragement,advice, and support. His coach was a constant bedsidecompanion and finally asked James, “Do you want to playtennis again?” James said “yes,” and they developed a planto start his comeback.
With the support of family, friends, and his coach, Jamesstarted his comeback step by painful step. At first when hetried to play tennis, he still had to overcome his blurredvision and dizziness. He had doubts whether he would everhandle the 125 mph plus serves of his opponents.
Then he suffered another setback. During his rehabilitation,his father, with whom he had a very close relationship,developed cancer and passed away. During his father’ssickness, James was by his side. After his father passedaway, James was devastated. However, he regrouped andcarried on with the support of his mother, family, friends, andcoach.
He returned to playing professional tennis, and there weremany more losses than wins. But he stayed focused anddetermined and progressively improved. He began playingthe top professional players competitively, and he beganwinning against the top players. Then he once again startedwinning tournaments. After this long journey, James becameone of the top players in the world.
What can we learn from James Blake’s journey throughadversity to greatness? The following are three keys tomaking adversity work for you:
1. If it Doesn’t Kill You, It Makes you Stronger
Many times we face adversities and say, “If only I can makeit through this.” It may be a sickness, loss of a loved one,job loss, etc. By remaining focused, determined, andconcentrating on the positive, many times you can becomestronger.
Parents are now sheltering their children against any littleadversity for fear it might be painful. I say allow yourchildren to “grow up” and stop sheltering them fromadversity. Teach them how to make adversity work for them.These adversities and the way they handle the adversitieswill define who they are and prepare them for challenges inthe future. Some of our greatest business leaders, scientists,engineers, inventors, humanitarians, and sport heroesbecame the people they are because they overcameadversity.
2. Adversity Often Develops Unknown Talents
Once the door of adversity closes one opportunity to you,the door of greatness often opens another. James Blake, firstduring his sicknesses and then after, developed hisawareness of helping other unfortunate people. Now heruns free tennis programs for disadvantaged children.Before his sickness, James was not known for hisconcentration and focus on the tennis court. After hissickness, he developed and became known for his mentaltoughness. When experiencing adversity, ask yourself,“What positive thing can come out of this?”
3. Adversity Rallies Your Resources
While James was sick, many resources arrived to help him.First, he had the time to step back to reflect on his life, goals,mission, and values. Second, he was able to obtain soundadvice from family, friends, and others that he might nothave been able to receive while traveling on the road. Hissetbacks allowed him to take time to summon resources(advice, help, etc.) he would not have realized if he had beentraveling non-stop. He made his “downtime” work for him.
When adversity comes, don’t avoid it; attack adversity withall your resources. The way you manage adversity willdefine who you are and ready you for future opportunities,because adversity can be your seed of greatness.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ed Sykes is a professional speaker, author, and success
coach in the areas of leadership, motivation, stress
management, customer service, and team building. You can
e-mail him at mailto:[email protected], or call him at
(757) 427-7032. Go to his web site,
http://www.thesykesgrp.com, and signup for his
newsletter, OnPoint, and signup for the newsletter, OnPoint,
and receive the free ebook, "Empowerment and Stress
Secrets for the Busy Professional."