How To Overcome Adversity: 12 Ways To Remove Obstacles

This new article will show you everything you need to know about how to overcome adversity.

Did you know that for the first three years of his life, Albert Einstein did not speak at all? People thought he was a slacker and a moron. But he never gave up and persevered in the face of difficulties to become one of the most brilliant thinkers in history.

You don’t have to be a genius to overcome difficulties in your life, although it’s easy to feel overwhelmed at times. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of strategies to help you discover a better way to deal with and overcome difficulties.

How To Overcome Adversity:

1. Adopt a good attitude.

Overcoming difficulties is easier when you have a positive attitude. When faced with difficult circumstances, try to remain optimistic.

While it is true that you need to be practical and see things realistically, you will only see negative aspects if you approach everything with a pessimistic perspective. Remove negative thoughts and attitudes from your mind so you can focus on discovering methods to persevere in the face of difficulties.

Whenever you notice that you have negative thoughts, try to stop yourself and replace them with positive ones.

For example, if you’re thinking to yourself, “I’ll never finish this project because I’m not good enough,” you can respond, “That’s not true; I’ve done tasks like this before and I know I can finish them.”

The more you practice turning negative thoughts into positive ones, the easier it will become.

2. Use your sense of humor.

Finding humor in difficult circumstances can help you cope with them. Of course, finding a humorous perspective on bad circumstances may seem difficult.

On the other hand, laughter can help you cope with stress, relieve tension, and reprogram your brain to be more optimistic. All the benefits of having a strong sense of humor can help you cope with and overcome difficulties.

For example, if you have a major difficulty at work, such as a delivery error or missed deadline, you might respond, “Well, that’s just my luck, right?” Laughing about stress can also help you cope with it.

3. Anticipate and prepare for problems.

It is easier to deal with difficulties if you prepare for them. Adversity in life is often inevitable, especially if you are pursuing an important goal.

The goal is to keep moving forward and be resolute in the face of adversity. It is realistic to expect that you will encounter some difficulties, so prepare yourself mentally. Expect challenges and setbacks, but believe in your ability to overcome obstacles as they arise.

For example, if you are working on some creative activity such as painting or writing a book, you can expect a lot of effort. It is also possible that some people may dislike and condemn it. But if you are mentally prepared and ready for it, you will be able to overcome any obstacle.

4. Take advice from those who have succeeded despite difficulties.

Others can teach you a lot about how to deal with difficulties. Consider historical people who have overcome incredible difficulties.

You can also look around you for other people who have overcome difficulties in their lives, such as friends, family members, or co-workers. Use their success stories to motivate yourself to keep fighting despite adversity.

You don’t even have to look at specific people. People who fight against misfortune are portrayed in the greatest literature. Use a book or movie about someone who has overcome adversity as your personal motivation!

SEE ALSO: How To Stop Running Away From Yourself: 14 Real Ways

5. Surround yourself with people who are supportive and compassionate.

When you have problems, your friends can help you. They are the ones who will encourage and support you. Choose positive people who accept your imperfections and will continue to motivate you when you feel overwhelmed.

People who have a negative attitude towards life can drag you down and prevent you from reaching your goals. Maintain friendships with people who care about you and your goals.

If you want to make new friends, you can join some communities that share your interests.

6. Keep a regular notebook of your ideas.

Writing down your ideas can help you stay focused. It can help you give yourself feedback about your life, better understand your current circumstances, and think outside the box to solve the problems you face.

For a few minutes each day, try to write down any emotions, feelings, or ideas that come to mind. Write down things that have been challenging you or that you are struggling with so that you can find answers to them.

You can use a notebook or a digital journal app on your phone or tablet to keep a journal (1).

Another benefit is that you will be able to reflect on how far you have come. You can be your own source of inspiration!

7. Reflect on the difficulties you have faced in the past.

For inspiration, think about previous challenges you have faced. You have overcome adversity before and will be able to do it again.

Think about a specific challenge you have faced in the past. How did you deal with it? What helped you get through it? Use your past experiences to help you build inner strength and resilience so you can face new difficulties.

For example, if you have a big new project at work to tackle, you might recall big tasks and projects you’ve worked on in the past. You dealt with those, you can deal with this one too.

8. Prepare for the future by learning lessons from the past.

Use difficulties to learn and grow. We learn the most when we face adversity. Adversity can teach you a lot. Consider how you can prevent yourself from making the same mistake again if you are faced with a situation that stems from a mistake you made.

Use failure as an opportunity to rethink your strategy, preparation, and execution. Focus on areas where you can grow so that you can deal with difficulties more effectively in the future.

For example, if you fail to complete a paper on time, you can analyze how you managed your time and what mistakes you made. This way, you will be able to improve next time.

SEE ALSO: How To Inspire Yourself Everyday: 14 Smart and Simple Ways

9. Focus on possible solutions to the problem.

Negative thoughts and fears are irrelevant. When faced with a difficult scenario, it is easy to become anxious or worried. Don’t let it overwhelm you. Ignore those negative thoughts and focus instead on finding a solution to the problem you are facing.

Suppose you met another person and asked them out on a date but were rejected. Instead of dwelling on the rejection, focus on what you did wrong and do it differently next time.

10. Don’t get carried away by your emotions.

Eliminate your emotions from the situation so you can observe it objectively. If you feel overwhelmed by emotions, good or bad, avoid making decisions.

Emotions are not always harmful (2), but they can lead to irrationality. When you are faced with difficult circumstances, take a step back and analyze them honestly and without emotion. This can help you see things more clearly.

If you are very irritated, try taking a deep breath and not reacting to anything. Allow yourself to relax for a while before dealing with the problem in a rational way.

11. Keep your long-term goals in mind.

To stay motivated, keep in mind what you are working on. If you’re working toward a big goal, you’re bound to experience some setbacks and difficulties along the way.

When you have bad days, remember your long-term goals. Make it a source of inspiration to keep moving forward in the face of difficulties.

For example, if you want to succeed as an athlete, you may face rejection along the way. But if you believe in yourself and focus on your goal, you can overcome any obstacle.

12. Never, ever give up.

Make a firm commitment to finding a way through the crisis. Don’t give up and accept defeat in the face of the situation. Instead, approach the problem with determination and commit to solving it. Never give up in the face of difficulty.

I want to thank you for taking the time to read my article about how to overcome adversity. I sincerely hope its contents have been a good help to you.

Przemkas Mosky
Przemkas Mosky started Perfect 24 Hours in 2017. He is a Personal Productivity Specialist, blogger and entrepreneur. He also works as a coach assisting people to increase their motivation, social skills or leadership abilities. Read more here