Adversity Doesn’t Define Us… It Reveals Us
I wrote the subtitle above and then figured someone somewhere has probably said that before. So began a short search around the topic of how overcoming adversity makes you stronger.
“Adversity does not build character, it reveals it.”
~James Lane Allen, novelist, short stories, 1849-1925
Facing Adversity
This is being written at the beginning of the last quarter of 2020.
It’s been a doozy of a year and one that turned out VERY DIFFERENT than our collective optimistic exuberance as we set 2020 goals around this time last year.
One thing is certain. None of us can change the past, nor any present circumstance out of our control. The one thing every one of us can change and choose is how we handle whatever comes our way.
Adversity doesn’t define us, it exposes us. Adversity reveals to us the personal work we need to do if we choose to. If we do, we will grow and the negative impact will diminish. If we don’t, we can be certain that there will be another opportunity, and another, until we get the lesson and move beyond it.
Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging.
Joseph Campbell, mythologist, author, lecturer 1904-1987
When Love Moves In
Do you suppose the Dalai Lama experiences hatred of others? Did Gandhi or Mother Teresa or Martin Luther King Jr…. or Christ or Buddha…? And if they did… what did they do with it?
Whatever negativity we’re experiencing, holds a message for us. It’s an indication of our next greatest opportunity for growth.
When love moves in, hate moves out.
~LeAura Alderson, iCreateDaily.com®
Overcoming Adversity With Love
One thing of which you can be certain. The more love you have in your heart, the less hate you will see and feel in the world. The more compassion you have at the ready, the more compassion will you experience. And, the more positivity you put out into the world, the more positivity will you see and receive.
This may be hard to grok, but it’s proven to be true, by countless people through the ages, from sages and serfs, to victims and perps. IF you’re feeling angst, anger, fear, worry, or — heaven forbid — hate, see that as an opportunity for discovery.
Overcoming adversity is an opportunity for transformation.
For it is ever true that it isn’t what happens to us that makes a difference, it’s how we respond to whatever is happening in our lives and in the world, that makes all the difference in our happiness and hopefulness. Our outlook is colored by the lens through which we view the world, and that is layered upon us increasingly over time.
Observe your reactions and examine them like an inquisitive child seeking to discover the meaning they hold for you, and the change and growth waiting to happen within you.
~LeAura Alderson, cofounder – iCreateDaily.com®
Reversing Adversity
How to mitigate adversity and turn it around? Bring on the attitude. Consider how, in any adversity, you can turn pain into power and struggle into strength. If it’s an argument, give love and understanding instead of battling with bitterness and hurt.
Gandhi changed the world with understanding and kindness, and ever it begins with one. Be that one in your circle.
Those who insist on negativity and blame will either change or leave for the shadows of negativity cannot withstand the light of kindness and love.
Adversity Antonyms
- Advantage
- Assistance
- Beauty
- Benefit
- Boon
- Contentment
- Creativity
- Curiosity
- Ease
- Encouragement
- Favor
- Fortune
- Fun
- Good Luck
- Gratitude
- Happiness
- Health
- Joy
- Miracle
- Optimism
- Peace
- Pleasure
- Positivity
- Prosperity
- Success
- Wonder
Consider the possibilities in meeting any adversity with any one or more of the qualities from this list. If that feels like a stretch, start with the easiest ones. Here are a few examples.
Examples of Overcoming Adversity
THE ADVANTAGE IN ADVERSITY:
“The advantage in losing my job is that it’s forcing me to learn new things, which is actually stimulating and energizing and expanding my abilities,marketabilities and opportunities.”
THE BENEFIT IN ADVERSITY:
“The benefit of this Covid19 situation is the opportunity to work from home is allowing my family to spend more time together without all the busy-ness stress that’s usually a part of every day rushing here and there.”
RELATED: Finding the Good in the Bad
GRATITUDE IN ADVERSITY:
“I didn’t sleep well last night but I’m grateful for the sleep that I did get.”
“I have to have an expensive root canal, but I’m grateful for the skilled dentistry that makes it possible to salvage my tooth.“
RELATED: Attitude of Gratitude
CURIOSITY AND FUN IN ADVERSITY:
“Wow, I really got outraged hearing my neighbor’s political opinion. It will be fun to discover where we’re in agreement, for — except for the names and labels we give our beliefs — chances are we’re more alike than different. We probably want the same things but simply have different opinions of how to achieve that. It will be fun to truly listen to my neighbor and discover common ground and new ideas.”
RELATED: Water as Emotions
In the end, it is not the arguments that matter, it’s the love. Always the Love. So begin at the end. Begin with love, proceed with love, and end with love.
~LeAura Alderson, cofounder – iCreateDaily.com®
Overcoming Adversity With Understanding
Become the light in your environment. Create beauty through your art in whatever mediums you favor, and through your attitudes.
Create with love and that is what you will manifest. More love. And that… that is what the world needs. That is what you need. More of that aspect of yourself. The more we love, the more love we have.
Love connects us with the infinity of divinity.
When we expect and engage the Beautiful, a new fluency is set free within us and between us. The heart becomes rekindled and our lives brighten with unexpected courage.
~John O’Donohue, author, Irish poet, celtic spiritualist, 1956-2008
RELATED: For more from John O’Donohue.
Adversity Quotes
Feel free to send us your favorite adversity quotes and we’ll add them.
Beauty and Overcoming Adversity
When we expect and engage the Beautiful, a new fluency is set free within us and between us. The heart becomes rekindled and our lives brighten with unexpected courage.
~John O’Donohue, author, Irish poet, celtic spiritualist, 1956-2008
Character and Adversity
Adversity introduces a man to himself.
~Albert Einstein, physicist, 1879-1955
RELATED: We’ve really enjoyed this very well series on Einstein, co-produced by Ron Howard.
“Adversity does not build character, it reveals it.”
~James Lane Allen, novelist, short stories, 1849-1925
Challenge and Adversity
Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging.
Joseph Campbell, literature professor, author, 1904-1987
Courage and Adversity Quotes
You can’t be brave if you’ve only had wonderful things happen to you.
~Mary Tyler Moore, actress, 1936-2017
Criticism and Adversity Quotes
Don’t be distracted by criticism. Remember, the only taste of success some people get is to take a bite out of you.”
~Zig Ziglar, motivational speaker, author, entrepreneur, 1926-2012
Empathy and Adversity Quotes
It’s vastly easier to try to understand another’s point of view than to convince them of ours.
~LeAura Alderson, cofounder – iCreateDaily.com®
Gratitude Quotes
Gratitude and forgiveness, compassion and empathy are powerful allies for life.
~LeAura Alderson, cofounder – iCreateDaily.com®
Greatness and Adversity Quotes
Adversity is preparation for greatness.
~Andy Andrews, author, b.5/22/1959
Humanity Quotes
I’m for humanity, no matter the “side” or politics, persuasion or beliefs, color or country. Let us see the best in each other and understand and forgive the worst, for we are all imperfect beings on a journey of discovery and growth.
~LeAura Alderson, cofounder – iCreateDaily.com®
I believe in the indomitability of human goodness and kindness. All else is simply pain and suffering expressing itself.
~LeAura Alderson, cofounder – iCreateDaily.com®
Love and Overcoming Adversity
In the end, it is not the arguments that matters, it’s the love. Always the Love. So begin at the end. Begin with love, proceed with love and end with love.
~LeAura Alderson, cofounder – iCreateDaily.com®
Opportunities and Overcoming Adversity
Adversity doesn’t define us, it reveals to us, opportunities to elevate.
~LeAura Alderson, cofounder – iCreateDaily.com®
Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging.
Joseph Campbell, literature professor, author, 1904-1987
Reactions and Adversity
“It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop.”
~Dieter F. Uchtdorf, German aviator, religious leader, author, b.11/6/1940
Reverence and Overcoming Adversity
Our real life comes to the surface and its light awakens the concealed Beauty in things. When we walk on the earth with reverence, Beauty will decide to trust us.
~John O’Donohue, author, Irish poet, celtic spiritualist, 1956-2008
Success and Overcoming Adversity
Sometimes adversity is what you need to face in order to become successful.
~Zig Ziglar, speaker, author, entrepreneur
IMAGE CREDIT: Feature Photo by Christopher Lemercier on Unsplash
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Hello! I’m LeAura, owner and co-creator of iCreateDaily.com®. As an autodidactic philosopher, generalist, personal development advocate, entrepreneur, writer, editor, author, ideator, media publisher, and podcaster, I’m passionate about helping others achieve their best possible life! Our small family of entrepreneurs, writers, investors, educators and creators own and run websites around topics we enjoy, such as gardening, health and fitness, creativity and pets, with more to come.
While my greatest teacher is Life… my formal training includes certifications in mediation, fitness, and strategic intervention coaching, including marriage and family. Today, the synergy of creating websites, articles and podcasts, brings together all my favorite things: family, learning, growth, creating, connecting and contributing. To share these with you is a privilege, that serves my lifelong aspiration to help others.
My personal areas of creativity are in writing, masterminding, ideation, synthesis and bringing ideas to life through business and entrepreneurship, all with a pervasive spiritual foundation with a focus on elevating the lives of others.
Want to submit your photos, videos and/or article content for publication? We love to consider your contribution for publication! creators@icreatedaily.com