Responding to Adversity

Responding to Adversity

AVOIDING
It can buy you time, especially when you are overwhelmed, but more often it prevents you from taking on adversity and using it positively
Denial is one of the most frequent ways adversity is avoided

SURVIVING
Can be arduous and draining
Can be inspiring if it is a life or death situation, but more often it is not a heroic choice

COPING
Some coping strategies are constructive, such as venting to a friend, blowing off steam at the gym, or going for a walk
Many coping strategies are destructive, such as drinking, eating, complaining, blaming and playing political games
Coping may help you get through adversity unscathed but it does not enable you to take advantage of it to grow and excel

MANAGING
Managing adversity tries to minimize the downside of the problem and its potential impact on your life
This is more effective than the previous three, but it still takes a lot of energy and doesn’t give much back

HARNESSING
Adversity has tremendous latent energy that can be harnessed to achieve incredible results and fuel your dreams
It creates big energy boosts and accelerates progress as well as builds momentum
It drives innovation, boosts confidence, strengthens morale


From The Adversity Advantage, by Paul Stoltz and Erik Weihenmayer