4 Ways To Navigate Adversity Successfully

Life can feel like riding the wildest roller coaster at times. The ups and downs are exciting but can also be terrifying when adversity strikes. There are things we all face that are simply out of our control. That said, we can control how we react and our behavior as we navigate various events in our lives. When we learn how to keep our minds in the present, generally, we can deal with the tough stuff much better. Yes, this kind of thinking takes practice, but I believe we can all do it. Here are a few simple ways to navigate adversity successfully.

Stay as Positive as Possible

Yeah, I know this can be easier said than done, especially when you’re dealing with something that affects you negatively. It is important to consider the positive things you have in your life, as well as the connections with people. Even taking a few moments each morning to be grateful for your life can have a huge impact on how you feel about adversity. Being positive doesn’t mean you can’t cry or get angry. It just means you have a better mindset with which to move forward.

Use Positive Communication

When we’re in the throes of adversity or conflict, it can be difficult to stay calm and collected. Our communication can become tense and filled with blame and anger. However, if we can set our emotions aside and speak with confidence and clarity, it’s much more likely to have a positive outcome. In fact,  Judge Diane Ritchie said that many legal conflicts can be resolved amicably out of court, as long as positive mediation takes place. Being rude and trying to bring others into your internal pain or conflict never ends well.

Learn From Your Past

If you often find yourself in difficult situations, consider the steps or choices that led to that place. In some cases, events are completely out of our control and have nothing to do with us. However, that isn’t always what’s happening. Repeating the same mistakes or choices can lead us down paths that aren’t serving or have a catastrophe waiting for us.

Look at what you’ve done or how you’ve reacted to situations in the past. If you had a poor outcome, try to make a different choice. Learn from your experience and begin to make choices that serve the life you want to live. 

Let Go of Control

One of the worst things we can do to ourselves is demand control over every situation. It is this need or desire that spells out “trouble” time and time again. After all, if we don’t need to have a certain outcome, who’s to say that anything is adverse or “bad”. It is our judgment that categorizes everything that happens in our lives. Because we don’t see the big picture always, we really have no idea what is good or bad. 

It can be hard to relinquish control with certain aspects of our lives, especially where our children are concerned. We want what’s best for them, so we go overboard with our expectations. When something goes wrong, it can feel like the end of the world. Again, letting go of attachments to the end results is liberating and brings us to a new place of peace and comfort.