“It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop.”
– Dieter F. Uchtdorf
The contribution of adversity in shaping mental resilience, emotional toughness, and character development will never be contended. Unfortunately, understanding this ideology and (actually) living in it are two separate mental spheres.
When people go through hardships, very rarely do their minds go on about thinking of any possible benefits from the experience. The idiom “the journey is the destination” is far easier said than done. After all, when people are too busy surviving, they often fail to introspect, and while this is a normal approach, it makes it easier for people to give up when times get rough.
The idea that people either make or break it in the face of adversity makes the whole circumstance tougher. It pushes people on the edge of desperation for success. A way to break free from this mental torture is to shift the perspective.
Live in the belief that adversity develops mental fortitude and learn to embrace hardships without wallowing in the pain.
Understanding the Role of Adversity in Shaping Mental Resilience
A better map of how adversity builds resilience is drawn in Ben Hinton’s Let Faith Grow.
His book about surviving rare diseases with faith goes beyond encouraging people to practice and strengthen their relationship with God. Instead, it doubles as a call for everyone to believe in their capacity to overcome challenges through grit and perseverance, showcasing the possibility of psychological growth through adversity.
What Is Mental Resilience in the Face of Adversity?
In simpler terms, resilience is defined by people’s success in returning from setbacks or life challenges. Whether emotional, physical, social, or environmental adversity, resilience is characterized by the absence of any adverse effects following exposure to these. It involves withstanding stressful or traumatic life events and maintaining a healthy perspective.
Adversity provides the space for resilience to be demonstrated and strengthened. This makes both interconnected, with one developing the other.
Understanding Why Resilience Is Important
Exposure to adverse life events typically predicts subsequent negative effects on mental health and well-being, such that more adversity predicts worse outcomes. However, adverse experiences may also foster subsequent resilience, with resulting advantages for mental health and well-being (Seery et al., 2010).
This study done by Mark Seery and his colleagues establishes the idea that not all adverse experiences lead to mental struggles. It not only highlights the role of adversity in shaping mental resilience but also illustrates how the brain rewires itself through these circumstances.
What Does Adversity Teach People?
Diamonds are made under pressure, and such is also applicable to people.
Adversity doesn’t only instill within people the understanding that life is tough. It also shapes them to become better, well-rounded individuals in the following ways:
Coping Mechanisms
Through repeated exposure, people learn to cope and regulate themselves better. This way, people learn to embrace and brave adversity, not crumble against it.
The many benefits of enduring challenges involve people adapting and developing stronger and better coping mechanisms. As they gain insights from past experiences, they learn from things they’ve done wrong or those that went wrong, becoming smarter and more equipped for life. They learn to recognize which coping strategies elevate their well-being and which break them down.
Better Perspective
There is always a silver lining in every difficult situation. Psychologically, navigating life through mental strength involves reframing people’s mindsets to function around a more positive lens.
This means choosing to find the good in every situation.
Finding the upside in adversity changes the way people approach circumstances. Instead of fearing failure, they learn that this teaches them to be better, making it easier to accept the downside of life and feel more hopeful for the future. With this shift, people gain better beliefs and thus better control of situations, which increases the likelihood of success.
Understanding How to Nurture Resilience
With the complexity and difficulties in life, it’s fortunate that resilience can be developed. Like a muscle, it can be trained through conscious decisions and better alignment of perspectives and thoughts. It takes time to be mentally tough, but one can start with simple steps.
1. Cultivate a Growth-Oriented Outlook
One reason people fail to see the role of adversity in shaping mental resilience is that they fear failure. (I mean, who doesn’t, right?) However, nobody is perfect, and with such imperfection comes instances of failure. A growth-oriented outlook teaches people not to see failure as a reflection of incompetence but to use it to fuel growth and emotional endurance. Failure redirects them in the right direction.
2. Practice Resilience Everyday
People don’t have to do anything too consequential or grand to develop resilience. Instead, they’re only required to practice consistent and mindful decisions. This includes life-changing yet straightforward practices such as journaling, gratitude, and goal-setting to improve their perspectives about life and belief in themselves.
3. Seek a Supportive System
Connection, community, and communication matter most when it comes to adversity. People are their own worst critics. Hence, when it comes to developing resilience and the belief that one can overcome whatever life throws at them, community is an integral element. It becomes easier to grow through difficulty, knowing people are ready to support.
Turning Pain Into Power—Effectively Weathering Life’s Storm
As much as there is a light at the end of the tunnel, there is meaning after every storm.
It’s valid to find pain and trouble in adversity. However, believing these circumstances lead to a deeper purpose and greater wisdom is beneficial. Past challenges equip people to face future ones with fewer difficulties and better confidence—all it takes is to allot space for reflection and embrace the role of adversity in shaping mental resilience.
Overall, adversity doesn’t only teach people better decision-making. It also shapes them to become better in different aspects of life. Read more about how adversity is the greatest teacher and a lifelong asset in Ben Hinton’s book, Let Faith Grow. Grab a copy of it today! Hear more inspiring messages from the author on May 9-10 at the Look Who’s Talking Now event. Details below!
