Bounce Back from Adversity

Bounce Back from Adversity

Here is another post from Lou Tice at the Winners Circle. In this one Lou gives us some tips on how to bounce back from those times of adversity that we all face at one time or another — some of us more than others.

Today, I want to talk about the importance of learning how to bounce back from adversity.

Whether it be loss of your job, the current uncertainty about the economy, an illness, or a natural disaster like a tornado or flood, which can cause you to lose almost everything in one fell swoop, it can really knock you off your feet for a while. And when adversity does strike, how fast you get up again depends on a number of things, such as:

• how good your support network is;
• how solid your self-esteem is;
• the extent to which you believe that you can control your own destiny;
• and your experiences of overcoming adversity in the past.

If you want to shorten the time it takes to get back on your feet, try this: Ask yourself how it will look when you no longer have your current problems. Spend time visualizing yourself in that picture and imagining how you’ll feel.

Do it over and over, day after day, week after week. Make a list your strengths and past accomplishments and add to that list on a daily basis. At the same time, set and prioritize some immediate, short-term goals to improve your situation. Write a detailed plan of action for the top three, including day and time.

Once you have accomplished a few short-term goals, you may feel ready to do some long-term vision and goal-setting. Finally – and this is important – no matter how much you’ve lost, take time to help someone else who is struggling. Even the worst adversity can be used to learn and grow.

Lou Tice
The Pacific Institute

I think there is something I can learn from this, as with most of these posts from the Winners Circle, and it has certainly got me thinking. My health is so up-and-down that I find myself needing to “bounce back” frequently. The trouble is, sometimes I don’t bounce back between bad bouts. Maybe, using the tips from Lou in this post, I might be able to make more of the better times between those bad bouts — it would certainly be good to do that.

I find Lou Tice’s thought provoking emails are very helpful. If you think you would too, do, please, consider subscribing to the Winners Circle.