Overcoming adversity is something we must all face at one point or another in our lives.
If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.~ Anne Bradstreet
If you know anything about me or have ever read my work or my blogs, you may have come across my take on this subject before. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with me, please allow me to introduce myself.
My name is Jeff Sokol; I’m an author, coach, metaphysical practitioner, and as you can see most importantly, a husband and a father.
Eleven years ago, I was in the World Trade Center in Manhattan. I was sitting at my desk on the 29th floor of the South Tower when the planes hit and changed my life forever. That day, I saw more death and destruction than most people will ever see in their lifetimes. For me, being completely unprepared, there was a lot of adversity to overcome.
From the “shock” of that day, I started experiencing all sorts of metaphysical phenomena (out of body experiences, etc.). I entered a state of depression due to a serious case of “survivor’s remorse”, I didn’t sleep more than 4 hours per night for 2 years straight, I was drinking heavily, getting arrested at times, and my parents got divorced which just made everything that much worse.
I was headed in a downward spiral. That is until I started studying metaphysical sciences. I learned how to overcome adversity through spirituality, and realizing a few key things I’ll get to in a moment.
Adversity is something we must all face at one point or another in our lives. One person’s adversity may be severely tragic, to that person, while others may see it in passing as something which can easily be overcome with the proper mindset conditioning.
Have you ever noticed when some people make a “mountain out of a mole hill”? It is easy to sit back and judge them over their reaction to such a simple “issue” but helping them is much more fulfilling, isn’t it?
3 Key Points to Overcoming Adversity
From what I’ve learned about adversity, I know that we live through it if we don’t give up. We just have to allow ourselves to bring a few key points to the forefront of our realities.
1. Be bigger than the problem
Realize that you are a divine and infinite being. When adversity is staring you in the face, stare back with the glaring wonder of all that you are as you begin to understand that this experience you are having is a human experience, and is part of your spiritual growth.
2. Learn from it
Try to understand WHY you are having the adversity, and what you can learn from this experience, and how you can improve something in your life to prevent it from happening again.
3. Move on
There is a saying that to be knowledgeable is to learn something every day, but to be wise, is to let go of something every day. One can be knowledgeable, and wise. Let go of whatever was holding you back, and move forward with your newfound knowledge of how to do it better.
These three little tokens have helped me to realize that adversity, in all of its forms, is only feedback from the universe on how you can become a stronger person. I asked you earlier, if you thought it was more fulfilling to help others overcome their own adversity, than to judge them.
By helping someone see their own special slice of divinity, you are helping them infinitely more than you may even realize.
Don’t you love the idea that your adversity helps others to be strong? Can you find comfort in the fact that when you gain strength through your trials, you may be able to help someone else drastically change their lives for the better?
For this humble author, going from getting drunk and arrested on the streets of New Orleans, drowning in a wasteland of despair, to marrying the most beautiful person I’ve ever met and having the precious gift of my amazing daughter….the difference is phenomenal.
I feel so very grateful every single day for my two angels you see in the photo, and all of the blessings we have in our lives.
If you or a loved one, or even just an acquaintance, are going through some particularly trying times and need some assistance, use these 3 keys to overcome adversity. I hope you got some value out of this that you can share with others.
Be blessed.