7 Ways to Conquer Adversity with Grit and Resilience

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Bonnie Marano, One of Thousands of Executive Coaches on Noomii.

No matter how successful we are, at some point in our lives, we are all bound to be confronted with some type of hardship. No one succeeds in life entirely devoid of any obstacles or challenges. Even the most gifted and accomplished of us sooner or later will deal with some type of hurt, loss, or misfortune. The important thing to remember is that it is not adversity itself that ultimately causes defeat, but, rather, our reaction to it that can truly make the difference between failure and success.

Keep in mind that all setbacks are temporary. Nothing need permanently throw you off course in life, no matter how grim it may seem. It’s a fact of life that we are highly unlikely to find our true path without encountering a few roadblocks along the way. When faced with roadblocks of your own, consider that even the most prosperous people have often overcome remarkable odds. These are the people who choose not to let life beat them down. They see life’s trials and tribulations as a challenge to ultimately push them to learn and become stronger. How do some people manage to persevere in the face of struggles that others might find insurmountable? The answer is through grit and resilience.

While some people seem to be lucky enough to be born with these traits, for the rest of us, there are some chief notions and approaches that can be practiced to help us develop and build these characteristics. Try using these methods and you, too, will find you can defeat adversity, get on with your life, and create your own unique path to victory.

1. Acknowledge that adversity is inevitable. Resistance is futile. You will never be able to entirely escape adversity. Avoidance and denial are unhealthy defense mechanisms for dealing with problems. Now and then, difficulties will occur. It’s better to face them head on. Remember that you can’t change what you don’t acknowledge, so the only way to productively deal with a challenge is to accept your situation and work through it.

2. Live in the here and now. Rather than worry about the “what ifs”, focus on what IS. You can’t change the past. Even if you believe a decision you made in the past is what led to your present situation, you don’t need to torture yourself over it. Remind yourself again that adversity is inevitable and this is an opportunity from which you can learn and grow. Practicing mindfulness can help tremendously in this capacity!

3. Learn to let go. Don’t add more pressure to your situation by constantly ruminating. Allow yourself the freedom to relax. Stress can literally kill you. Kill. You. Dead. No circumstance is worth that risk! This is not always an easy thing to do in difficult times, but it is so very important. Meditate, exercise, get a massage…find what works for you and do it. Then do it again. And again. Everything else will come easier if you can keep your mind and body in a positive place.

4. Employ your resources. Don’t be afraid to turn to your support systems, wherever they are, in trying times. The ability to ask for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. And never turn down help when it is offered. Most people are happy to be of service when they know someone is going through something difficult. When they ask what they can do, don’t be afraid to tell them. Honestly. And be willing to reach out when you need to. No one can do it all alone. Those who support you can then take comfort in knowing you will be there to do the same for them if and when they find themselves struggling.

5. Concentrate on resolutions. When misfortune rears its ugly face, our natural reaction is often one of fear. This fear can be paralyzing. Worrying is like rocking in a rocking chair. It might give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere. Rather than fretting about your circumstances, try to focus on what you do have the ability to change. There will always be things beyond your control, but there are also always steps you can take to make things better for yourself. Sometimes the only thing we can change about our situation is our reaction to it…but oftentimes that is enough!

6. Establish your vision. Think about what you would like to result from your situation. What can you take from the experience that will ultimately benefit you going forward? Focus on how you can create positive change from an otherwise negative experience. Don’t just put a Band-Aid on things. You need to consider what it will take to truly, fully heal. Keep in mind that the feelings and emotions you might experience are all valid. Take the time you need to work through those feelings, rather than just repressing them, but do so intentionally with a clear objective in mind. Visualize what would be your ideal aftermath and then do the necessary work to actually make it happen.

7. Emphasize progress. Celebrate every small step you make in the right direction. Keep your vision in mind, but recognize that you are a work in progress. Acknowledge everything you are doing to improve yourself and your situation. Positive reinforcement is what motivates us to keep going, so make sure you are regularly checking in with yourself and applauding your achievements. You might not be where you want to be right now, but as long as you are moving forward you should consider yourself successful.

Even those of us not fortunate enough to be born naturally gritty and resilient can learn how to be with some practice. You don’t have to let the challenges life throws your way overwhelm or immobilize you. Trust and believe that you truly have it in you to be able to conquer anything. Apply these strategies when you find yourself facing adversity, and eventually they will become your habits. Over time you will see yourself growing, changing, and adapting to all sorts of things in ways you may never have thought possible.