Motivation Mondays: Overcoming Adversity (2024)

“There are uses to adversity, and they don’t reveal themselves until tested. Whether it’s serious illness, financial hardship, or the simple constraint of parents who speak limited English, difficulty can tap unexpected strengths.” Sonia Sotomayor

YouTube Video: Happiness is a Journey Not a Destination.

Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records. William Arthur Ward
Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit. Napoleon Hill
When adversity strikes, that’s when you have to be the most calm. Take a step back, stay strong, stay grounded and press on. LL Cool J
Be bold enough to live life on your terms, and never, ever apologize for it. Go against the grain, refuse to conform, take the road less traveled instead of the well-beaten path. Laugh in the face of adversity, and leap before you look. Dance as though EVERYBODY is watching. Mandy Hale

How do we overcome adversity? At different points in our lives, we are all touched by some form of adversity and with it comes the burden of how to handle it and work our way through it. It is never easy and we might find many people giving unsolicited advice on how to manage the pain and possible suffering that comes with it. Experience has taught so many of us that we should take all the time we need to sort through the pain, seek professional help, and reach for the loving support of friends and family. When we are willing to ask for and receive help with open arms, we can begin the process of finding our own shaky or steady path to healing. There are many ways to get there but, we must be motivated by our own drivers to let the natural path of healing and wellness find its way to us. Recently, a friend shared the video above and it is a beautifully shared story about the seeds of happiness. In a way, it focuses on a tool that we sometimes forget: when you are down, reach out and help another soul, for healing lies in the love and comfort we give to others while we are struggling with our own. When we shift our focus a bit, we might soon find that we have crossed the bridge of sadness and entered the path of healing… there is a mind set to that too. Think about it.

As Judge Sotomayor says in the quote above, adversity can open the door to unexpected strengths lying dormant within us. I’ve know seemingly feeble, even lazy, people become strong, grounded and towering oaks in the face of great adversity. It forces us to discard the trivial and face up to what truly matters in our lives. While happiness and joyfulness can give us hope and glimpses of what we have set aside in times of woe, the full throttle of a difficult phase in our lives can sharpen us and peel off the layers to reveal a hardy, determined yet compassionate soul. In our suffering we are reminded of the frailty of the human condition and if we set out mind on a higher goal and perspective, we are drawn within to a place of gratitude and steadiness for what is.

A Zen Story: The Other Side
One day a young Buddhist on his journey home came to the banks of a wide river. Staring hopelessly at the great obstacle in front of him, he pondered for hours on just how to cross such a wide barrier.
Just as he was about to give up his pursuit to continue his journey he saw a great teacher on the other side of the river. The young Buddhist yells over to the teacher, “Oh wise one, can you tell me how to get to the other side of this river”?
The teacher ponders for a moment looks up and down the river and yells back, “My son, you are on the other side”.

“I think we build resilience to prepare for whatever adversity we’ll face. And we all face some adversity – we’re all living some form of Option B.” Sheryl Sandberg

Adversity is the first path to truth. Lord Byron
Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, for wise men say it is the wisest course. William Shakespeare
Under adversity, under oppression, the words begin to fail, the easy words begin to fail. In order to convey things accurately, the human being is almost forced to find the most precise words possible, which is a precondition for literature. Rita Dove
There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time. Malcolm X

How does adversity touch our lives? Adversity can make us sad, mad, bitter and even vengeful but, those emotions will keep us down if we stay there; so, it is imperative that we look for other ways to pull ourselves out of such a quagmire. While it is important to work on our own healing during sad times, we can find that some of our pain and burden shifts when we refocus some of that attention on others. Recently, I had a health scare and had to take time out to get well. While I was on the mend, I connected with other folks who were in far worse shape than myself and, even though it was important to recognise the value of self-care, I also knew it was important to provide some comfort and cheer to others around me. Part of overcoming adversity is also about not sucking all the oxygen out of the proverbial room but pausing to empathize with others and to give them a hug, a smile and a word of hope. Option B can be the antidote to wallowing in self pity. We can reach more and comfort many when we remember that in our own pain and suffering, others are there with us and even more are suffering greater pain.

Some find their creativity is fully fueled in dark times. Why? Because adversity pulls at the very core of our soul and leaves us open to receive a deeper understanding and revelatory wisdom about ourselves. It forces us to consider our place in the world we inhabit and to think about what/why we take certain aspects of our lives for granted. Even the simple act of giving ourselves permission to eat healthy meals and get enough rest gets dangled before our eyes when our lives run amok with chaos and disappointment. It is in those hard times that we are pushed to reflect on how we have spent our time; if we stay open and honest, we might start to understand the beauty of maintaining a modicum of balance and an appreciation for the simplicity of life. In learning to find the balance that helps us stay steady on our feet, we create a space for others to experience the same and this act of conscious living spreads the ripple effect beyond our doorstep. Think about it.

A Zen Story: Watch Yourself
There was once a pair of acrobats. The teacher was a poor widower and the student was a young girl by the name of Meda. These acrobats performed each day on the streets in order to earn enough to eat.
Their act consisted of the teacher balancing a tall bamboo pole on his head while the little girl climbed slowly to the top. Once to the top, she remained there while the teacher walked along the ground.
Both performers had to maintain complete focus and balance in order to prevent any injury from occurring and to complete the performance. One day, the teacher said to the pupil:
“Listen Meda, I will watch you and you watch me, so that we can help each other maintain concentration and balance and prevent an accident. Then we’ll surely earn enough to eat.”
But the little girl was wise, she answered, ‘Dear master, I think it would be better for each of us to watch ourself. To look after oneself means to look after both of us. That way I am sure we will avoid any accidents and earn enough to eat.’

“To care for him who shall have borne the battle …” Abraham Lincoln

Veterans Day: Honoring all who served – November 11 is Veterans Day: We stop everything else so we can gather together to stand up and honor/salute all of our brave members of the armed forces; about22 million male and female Veteranswho served in the United States Armed Forces. Even though I’ve written about this important tradition elsewhere, it is imperative that we learn more and teach our children about it. When we read the quotation above from President Abraham Lincoln, we need to educate ourselves on its historical significance and the great effort he made to unite this nation and speak out about the moral and religious implications of war. War divides and destroys nations and our Veterans fought to bring an end to it. Let us never forget to honor all who gave selflessly and fearlessly and paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of this country.

The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for SEPT/OCT 2017 are:

OCTOBER

10/01 – World Communion Sunday, Int’l. Coffee Day, Nigeria Indep. Day, World Vegetarian Day, 02 Child Health Day,
04 Feast of St Francis of Assisi, World Animal Day, 05 First Day of Sukkot, 06 World Smile Day
10/08 – 09 Leif Erikson Day, Columbus Day, Indigenous People’s Day/Native Americans’ Day, 10 World Mental Health,
11 Int’l. Day of the Girl, Come Out Day, Sukkot ends, 12 World Sight Day, 13 Friday the 13th
10/15 – 16 Bosses Day, World Food Day, 19 Diwali, Spirit Day
10/22 – World Mission Sunday, 23 Mole Day, 24 United Nations Day, 28 St Simon/St Jude, Nat’l Chocolate day
10/29 – Nat’l. Cat Day, 31 Halloween

NOVEMBER

11/05 — 05 Guy Fawkes, 7 Election Day, 10 Science Day, 11 Veterans Day
11/12 — 13 World Kindness Day, 14 Diabetes Day, 16 International Day of Tolerance, 17 National Unfriend Day
11/19 — 20 Universal Children’s Day, 21 World TV Day, 23 Thanksgiving Day
11/26 — 27 Cyber Monday, 28 Giving Tuesday

Are You Looking for Ways to Stay Creative in 2017?

– Join the Daily PostPost-a-day or Post-a-week Challenge.

— Join theBlogHer Writing Lab

More Below!

“You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it’s important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages.” Michelle Obama

In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider. King Solomon
Everyone is handed adversity in life. No one’s journey is easy. It’s how they handle it that makes people unique. Kevin Conroy
One of the greatest gifts my father gave me – unintentionally – was witnessing the courage with which he bore adversity. Ben Okri
Adversity is an opportunity for growth. And an opportunity to really know who your friends are. Megyn Kelly
The pressure of adversity does not affect the mind of the brave man… It is more powerful than external circ*mstances. Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Is being happy a panacea for helping others who feel sad? Is it possible to be prepared for the shifting winds of adversity? Adversity doesn’t offer warnings or prearranged timelines. It sweeps in like a hurricane destroying everything in its path. Some view it as a kindling of the fire within, or a way to sweep out what no longer serves us. Others view it as a trial fraught with lessons we must face and learn. I won’t presume to hold any secret cards on the subject but, one thing I know for sure is that just as the human heart ticks and feels sorrow, the pain of adversity is real and can linger for a long time. It helps to have a support structure to weather the storms of a challenging phase in our lives. Plus, we can use the time to assist others and help them ease their pain which in turn helps us too… it is that old concept of one hand washing another.

As Bankei demonstrated in the story below, all acts of misbehavior are not deserving of immediate banishment and condemnation. Of course, it does take wisdom and vigilance to know the difference but, when we look through the eyes of a child committing a bad act, we must use it as an opportunity to teach and help them learn the value in the lesson. Carrying and using a big stick is not always the answer to pithy problems. Solutions must be weighed and based on other inherent and not so obvious determinations. By the same token, when we see people suffering, instead of presuming they did wrong and are being justly punished by karma or what have you, pause and ponder…. but for the grace of the Creator, there goes you too. No? Do come back for more…

A Zen Story: Right and Wrong
When Bankei held his seclusion-weeks of meditation, pupils from many parts of Japan came to attend. During one of these gatherings a pupil was caught stealing. The matter was reported to Bankei with the request that the culprit be expelled. Bankei ignored the case.
Later the pupil was caught in a similar act, and again Bankei disregarded the matter. This angered the other pupils, who drew up a petition asking for the dismissal of the thief, stating that otherwise they would leave in a body.
When Bankei had read the petition he called everyone before him. “You are wise brothers,” he told them. “You know what is right and what is not right. You may go somewhere else to study if you wish, but this poor brother does not even know right from wrong. Who will teach him if I do not? I am going to keep him here even if all the rest of you leave.”
A torrent of tears cleansed the face of the brother who had stolen. All desire to steal had vanished.

Have a peaceful and productive week ahead!

Any Zen Antics stories via

Positive Motivation Tip: Overcoming adversity takes time and strength… Be compassionate with yourself and others.

Motivation Mondays is open to anyone who wishes to share a motivational quote, photo, personal challenge or a post that encourages others to start the week on an upbeat note.
Basic Instructions: Each week, I will have a motivation word to help us create a response. (See listed words for the months above/below)
Email address: You may email or share your post as a comment and I will add it to the round-up of related posts. email it to: contact(@)mirthandmotivation(.)com
Category tag: – Share your post using Motivation Mondays
Twitter hashtag: – Use this on Twitter #MotvnM
Dedicated Page: There is a dedicated page for Motivation Mondays. It has the same instructions and will include other helpful tools and a link to the round-up
Facebook Page: MotivationOnMondays Join our page and add your post and/or any motivational piece you think will be helpful to others.
Facebook Community: We have a Facebook community forum to compliment the page. It serves as another way to share uplifting posts and thoughts. Please join in and add your voice.

Badge: – I created a fun badge using PicMonkey’s free photo editing tools. You can create your own, use WordPress’ integrated tool on your blog or you are welcome to use mine. (see dedicated page)
Tag: – Motivation Mondays
Hashtag: – #MotvnM

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PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos Problems, Overcome Adversity, Happiness viaPixabay, AND/ORviaWikipedia…

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet