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Adversity


While I'm no expert on adversity, I am deeply passionate about overcoming it. Adversity is akin to a workout for your intestinal fortitude. It often feels like taking a sudden, powerful body shot from a young Mike Tyson—unexpected and debilitating, as if death is performing CPR. Think of it like the waiting-to-inhale version of the movie "Waiting to Exhale." You have two choices:


  1. Remain Stagnant: Stay in the fetal position, overwhelmed by the pain, and never give yourself permission to move beyond it.

  2. Rise and Reflect: Catch your second wind, stand up, and examine the vulnerabilities that allowed adversity to hit so hard.


The beauty of this experience lies in the fact that, as long as you don’t panic, you’ll not only breathe again but also gain the awareness of what such a body shot feels like. You’ll recognize its signs (wisdom), become inspired to train and learn how to defend against it (growth), work on the vulnerabilities that made you susceptible (change), and potentially guide others through similar challenges (advocate). Adversity, when approached this way, can lead to our most profound growth.

This metaphorical understanding of adversity applies to relationships, rejection, racism, social injustices, poverty, privilege, and more. These challenges are potential body shots that test our resolve to either sink or swim.


In a previous blog, I mentioned processing experiences as neither good nor bad, and adversity is a key part of that equation. The fear associated with adversity can be paralyzing, blinding us to opportunities for growth and making it hard to see beyond the hardship. Sometimes, people avoid examining their adversity due to the pain, shame, or embarrassment it causes, which can lead to feelings of hopelessness and, in severe cases, thoughts of suicide.


However, pressing on and confronting our adversity allows us to reframe it into a learning opportunity. This process fosters a self-taught relationship where we grow wiser through our challenges. Adversities have fueled my passion for my goals, strengthening my resolve. The more obstacles I face, the more I realize that God knows I’m capable of handling them, and the tougher the going gets, the tougher I become.


For me, blogging and evolving into a therapist is about more than clinical jargon and credentials. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate that I am not perfect but genuinely understand and empathize with my clients. My personal inventory reveals that I am not a guru but someone who has faced adversity and grown from it. My goal is to offer genuine positive regard and inspire others through my own resilience.


If you're facing adversity, I encourage you to read Edgar Albert Guest’s poem "See it Through" and take its message to heart. Be encouraged, remember you have control over your actions in every reaction, and see it through!

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