Adversity is unavoidable, but suffering from it is optional.
This is where the power of mindset, precisely growth mindset, comes in.
People must learn to improve mindset in adversity because how they perceive their experiences shapes their reality. If they see challenges as burdens, the longer they’re exposed to them, the heavier the world becomes. BUT if they were to shift this perspective and see challenges positively—as stepping stones boosting them up instead of dragging them down—the better their lives would become.
Strategies to build resilience are essential in inspirational books to exceed limits. But most of them aren’t as personal, thus trustworthy and credible, as Ben Hilton’s Let Faith Grow.
Beyond documenting his experience, the author also shares a personal approach to overcoming the darkest days of his life. Ultimately, he proves that shifting one’s mindset changes one’s life.
Rewiring the Brain: How to Improve Mindset in Adversity
When people encounter challenges, their first instinct typically is fear, and there’s nothing wrong with it. But if they want to guarantee success, if not at least development or movement, they should learn to overcome fear and improve their mindset in adversity.
How can this be done?
Changing Perceptions
What happens in the brain precedes reality.
How people think will likely influence how they do.
First things first, in order to improve mindset in adversity, one must trash the concept of “challenges.” This is essential so everyone who encounters such doesn’t add that much negativity to their situations.
When people think of challenges, they think of something that either leads to failure or success, a monotonous perspective. Focusing the mind on the term challenge immediately makes it jump towards either anticipating success or mourning a failure.
However, the moment people improve mindset in adversity, they don’t only see challenges as growth opportunities. Instead, they see these as normal situations. In embracing struggles, people don’t get held up by fear. This is when it’s a lot easier for them to succeed. When they don’t let intimidation hold them back, it’s when people unlock their full potential.
Shifting from Victim to Empowered
When people are challenged, they question the situation.
“Why is this happening to me?”
“Why me?”
Agony is a natural reaction to dire situations. Yet again, just because it’s understandable doesn’t mean it should be prolonged. Let the worry come and let it go. To master adversity, people should still question why situations are happening to them. But, at the same time, they should be empowered to answer that perhaps these conditions don’t bring suffering but growth.
“This is happening to me because I will learn something from it.”
“This is happening to me because I’m able to overcome it.”
Setting the Tone for Positivity
People think of negativities first because that’s what they’ve been accustomed to. Negativity is everywhere, and often, the brain seeks it—negativity bias. It’s how the body ensures it survives and protects itself before bad things happen. It’s forward-thinking, often beneficial, but also often hindering.
To change things up, it’s vital that people learn to cultivate a positive mindset. As early as the moment they open their eyes, they should already set the tone for positivity. This way, they’re directing their brains to focus on what’s good and shun what’s bad, transforming their mindset for the day.
Reframing Adversity: How Can a Positive Mindset Help Overcome Challenges
Turning Setbacks into Comebacks
Who else is there to better speak about turning setbacks into comebacks than Ben Hinton himself?
His story is a true testament to the courage and success that lies within everyone should they learn to improve mindset in adversity. Ben Hinton, a marathon runner, is the epitome of resilience. Born with a rare brain inflammation and having sustained a traumatic brain injury, nobody would have expected him to run. But instead of constantly ruminating about why things happened to him, Ben empowered himself by shifting his perspective.
Instead of asking why things happened to him, he made an answer: It happened to him because he could overcome such tribulations. Instead of giving up and crumbling after what occurred, he dusted himself up and continued running. Ben Hinton showed his readers what should happen whenever they encounter obstacles: Jump over them.
Seeing the Bigger Picture
The shift in Ben’s mindset meant only one thing: everything is possible if people don’t let fear overtake action. If Ben had suffered from his injuries and hesitated to move because of the repercussions, he wouldn’t have crossed the finish line. This lesson behind outdoing self-doubt to improve mindset in adversity shows that negative thought patterns hold people back.
How do you know that?
When people realize they’re hesitating based on intimidation and not results, they should question themselves. If action isn’t done, how can they know what they can’t achieve? It’s as simple as that.
Adversity Doesn’t Define People—It’s How They Respond that Do
This is like saying that people’s shortcomings don’t fully measure who they are; it’s what they do to overcome these that do. Everybody undergoes challenges, but only a few triumph over them.
However, while it’s not a unique experience, how people approach them is an identifier of who they are. How people react to these situations and strive to improve mindset in adversity reveals who they truly are at their core. Do they succumb or persevere?
Ben Hinton’s story is a vivid imagery of how, with the right mindset, adversity can be a catalyst for development and success. Adversity doesn’t hinder people. It’s themselves that do. If anything, challenges push them to become who they are.
If you’re interested in reading more of how Ben Hinton improved his mindset and overcame his tribulations, grab a copy of his book Let Faith Grow now!
