Overcoming Adversity

[Guest guest]

Overcoming Adversity

There are those who say life is like a sprint or a marathon. I say it often

feels like a sprint combined with a boxing match because we are not only

running but we are getting hit along the way. Every day we face challenges and

obstacles that feel like we are getting hit with left jabs and right hooks. Sure

we

have goals but many folks could care less. We have dreams that others can't

see. We have a vision that only plays on our mind's DVD... no one else's. We

have hopes for our relationships, our families, our careers. But then BAM. WAK.

BAM. We're hit again and we loose our footing.

Negative comments from relatives, energy vampires at work, tax bills,

rejections, challenging customers, difficult children, self doubt and

problematic

relationships all take their toll on us. Now more than ever it is imperative to

build our mental and emotional muscle to overcome life's adversity. Just as a

boxer and football player need to train their body to compete we need to train

our minds to develop the mental and emotional strength to withstand the

barrage that life can often bring.

In the academy award winning movie, Million Dollar Baby, Maggie had a vision

for her life. She knew with the right training she could be a champion. She

received that training and the crowds cheered her name. So I ask you, what could

you accomplish with the right training to overcome the adversity, the

challenges, and the negativity in your life? What would you achieve if self

doubt

didn't stop the flow of positive energy in your life?

We'll never be able to change others-only they can change themselves. And

we'll never have a challenge- free life. What we must do is develop and train

ourselves. We must reach a point where our positive energy, vision, enthusiasm

and trust are greater than anyone's negativity or any one challenging event. Our

certainly must become greater than their doubt.

So how do we do this? We start by exercising and building our trust muscles.

Trust doesn't just occur by osmosis. Rather with our gift of free will we must

make the decision to trust. It is a choice. We must build and cultivate trust

in ourselves and in a bigger plan for our life. It is a choice I know well. A

few years ago when I was miserable with my life-taking a daily beating from

stress and fear-I finally made the decision to trust. I came up with a mantra

and I started saying it every day and throughout the day. In fact, I still say

this daily.

Say it with me. " I trust that everything happens for a reason. I trust that

great things are happening. " I find the less I fear and the more I trust, the

more my life flows. Try it and see for yourself. Saying this mantra each day is

like me giving you a 10lb barbell and you lifting it. In response to your

exercise you build more muscle. When you trust you activate the part of your

brain associated with higher brain functioning and you deactivate your amygdala,

the part of your brain associated with fear and stress. The more you do this

exercise the more automatic and stronger the response becomes.

So when you are faced with a fearful or stressful situation instead of fear

hijacking your thoughts and mind, your trust muscles will be flexed and

dominate your thought process. Instead of your thoughts saying, " What are we

going to

do, this is bad, I can't handle this, it's hopeless, why me, what's going to

happen tomorrow, " you will trust and say, " Calm down, relax, everything is

going to work out, it always does, I can handle it, and I trust that great

things

are happening. " This is not rah rah motivational stuff. This is the latest

research in neuroscience and positive psychology applied to our daily lives.

Research shows that building your trust muscles will help you make better

decisions at work and at home. It will help you reduce stress. You will flow

instead

of fight each day. And most importantly your trust and faith will energize you

to take on each day, each challenge and each situation one trusting belief at

a time. Trust that great things are happening and they will.

Action Steps

· Throughout the day repeatedly say, " Great things are happening. "

· When you are faced with an obstacle or stressful situation practice the

following technique. Stop and focus on your breathing. Say the mantras, " I trust

that great things are happening, " and " Everything happens for a reason. " Do

this for a few minutes until you feel calm and mentally clear. Then, deal with

the situation. Continue to breathe deeply while you handle the problem. You'll

be amazed at how problems dissolve when you flex your trust muscles.

May your day be filled with boundless energy!

- Jon

email: jon@...

phone:

web: http://www.jongordon.com