Overcoming Adversity: A Founder's Guide
Overcoming Adversity: A Founder's Guide
How to Find Joy and Fulfillment. A Guide to Letting Go of Expectations and Choosing Joy.
I'm Manuel Saez, I write to help founders master emotional intelligence to make decisions with clarity 🌻 EQ coach, 2X-founder & award-winning designer ➜ I love fixing old motorcycles 🛵 🏍
Reading time: 7 min.
Contents:
The Unpredictability of Life
How To Accept The Unfairness Of Life
Letting Go Of Expectations
Finding Gratitude In Difficult Situations
Choosing Joy In Every Moment
Strategies for Overcoming Adversity and Thriving
Sometimes, life feels unfair, like swimming upstream on a peanut butter river, and it's common to feel that everything is working against you. You might have experienced setbacks in your personal or professional life, faced difficult challenges or loss, or just felt like things weren't going how you hoped. In these moments, it's easy to fall into a negative mindset and feel like life is unfair.
However, it's essential to recognize that life is inherently unpredictable. You cannot control everything that happens to you; sometimes, things don't go as planned. The key is to accept this reality and learn to adapt to change.
This doesn't mean you should abandon your goals or stop striving for success. It means you must be prepared for the unexpected and learn to navigate challenges with resilience and flexibility.
Understanding your mindset when this happens is crucial to breaking free from negative thoughts that keep you from being the best version of yourself.
The Unpredictability of Life
Life is full of surprises, both good and bad. Everything may go smoothly one moment, and you may face unexpected challenges the next. It's essential to recognize that life is unpredictable, and while you may not always be able to control what happens, you can control how you respond to it.
The unpredictability of life can make it feel unfair. You may feel like you've been dealt a bad hand or wonder why certain things are happening to you. However, it's important to remember that life is not a game with fixed rules. There are no guarantees, and everyone will face challenges at some point.
It is easy to get caught up in worrying about the future or dwelling on the past, but this only creates anxiety and stress. By accepting life's unpredictability, you can learn to let go of your need for control and focus on the present moment.
Also, remember that life's unpredictability is a blessing; it makes life exciting and full of possibilities for growth and learning. Embracing the unknown can lead to exciting experiences and unexpected outcomes.
How To Accept The Unfairness Of Life
To face life's unfairness, we must first accept that life is unpredictable. Though it's difficult to accept the injustice of life, doing so enables us to concentrate on the present moment instead of worrying about things beyond our control. Assuming responsibility for our lives can help us find peace even when life doesn't meet our expectations.
Here are some tips to help you accept life's unfairness:
Acknowledge the root cause of why something may be perceived as "unfair." Take an honest, non-judgmental look at what happened to understand the underlying reason for your negative feelings. Once you know the cause, you can work toward addressing and overcoming them.
Choose to be happy for others who may have had good luck or fortune. Rather than dwelling on negative feelings of jealousy or resentment toward those who may have had better luck or fortune, try to focus on being happy for them. This can help shift your mindset from one of negativity to one of positivity and gratitude.
Don't compare your successes or failures against those around you; focus on your desires. Instead of measuring your success or failure against others, focus on what you want to achieve and work toward that. Everyone's journey is different, and comparing yourself to others can be a recipe for disappointment and frustration.
Surrounding yourself with good people can help foster positive thoughts and outlooks. The people around you can significantly impact your attitudes and perspectives. Surrounding yourself with positive, supportive individuals can help foster a more optimistic and resilient mindset.
Taking time each day to think through these points will slowly increase your feelings of contentment with whatever comes your way - both bad and good - ultimately leading to relief and true freedom.
Letting Go Of Expectations
Sometimes, when our expectations of specific outcomes are unmet, we experience a sense of injustice and an assortment of negative feelings, significantly if we were invested emotionally in the result. Instead of getting stuck in negative thoughts and obsessive thinking, focusing on gaining control over our lives is much more productive.
Here are some ways to gain more control and let go of expectations:
Create a "Plan B": When you have a Plan B, and the desired outcome does not come, you have built options for yourself and created less dependency.
Be mindful of your thoughts and feelings: When you're aware of them, you can recognize and stop when you're getting caught up in negative thinking patterns.
Focus on what you can control: It is essential to recognize what you can and can't control. You control the process but, in most cases, do not control the outcome. Focus on doing the work to the best of your abilities.
Embrace uncertainty: Life is unpredictable, and accepting this can help you deal with situations when your expectations are unmet. When you embrace uncertainty, you will be better equipped to handle unexpected situations and adapt to change.
Practice gratitude: Focusing on what you're grateful for can help you let go of expectations and appreciate the present moment. Being grateful makes you less likely to get caught up in negative thinking patterns.
Letting go of expectations takes time and practice, but it's essential for your well-being. By focusing on what you can control and embracing uncertainty, you can gain more control over your lives and feel more content with your circumstances.
Finding Gratitude In Difficult Situations
It's a fact that things sometimes go differently than planned. Whether it's a job loss or a relationship ending, complex situations can be incredibly challenging.
While it's easy to become bogged down in negative thoughts and emotions, it's important to remember that there is always something to be grateful for.
One way to find gratitude in difficult situations is to focus on the lessons that can be learned. The experience may have taught you something about yourself or allowed you to develop new skills. It could have given you a new perspective on life or helped you appreciate the people and things you have.
Whatever the case, taking the time to reflect on the positive aspects of the situation can help shift your mindset and bring a sense of peace and contentment. Here are a few ways to do it:
Remember that everyone has struggles: No matter who we are or where we come from, we all have our battles to fight against life's hardships. We may not always realize it, but chances are someone out there has gone through the same situation as we have, so understanding this helps put into perspective our perception of a fair/unfair life.
Acknowledge that bad things happen. Bad luck happens to everyone at some point in life—no one is immune. When you go through a challenging situation, focus on taking away something valuable from it. Try journaling about what you've learned or done differently next time; sometimes, looking back at experiences can help give clarity and peace of mind.
Be appreciative of what you still do have: Even when facing hardship, remind yourself of everything that you still have going for you—friends and family members who love you unconditionally, the laugh of your kids that brings joy, talents that make life easier—and use those moments as reminders why fighting for the future is vital despite the challenges ahead.
Finding gratitude in difficult situations is about shifting your focus from what you've lost to what you still have. It's about recognizing that even in the darkest times, there are still things to be thankful for. Doing so can cultivate a sense of resilience and hope to carry you through even the toughest challenges.
Choosing Joy In Every Moment
It is up to us to choose joy over anger and acceptance over resentment. We can not control what happens, but we can control how we feel about it.
One way to do this is to shift the focus of your thoughts from the negative to the positive aspects of your life. Seek out positive experiences throughout the day. This could mean taking a few moments to enjoy coffee, talk to someone you respect, or go for a walk.
Another way to choose joy is to practice gratitude. This involves taking several moments during the day to purposely bring to your attention the things you are thankful for, big and small. By focusing on the positive aspects of your life, you can shift your mindset towards joy and contentment.
Surrounding yourself with people and things that bring you happiness is also important. Whether spending time with loved ones, listening to your favorite music, or engaging in a fun hobby, incorporating these things into your daily life can profoundly impact your overall well-being. Ultimately, choosing joy is a practice that requires effort and intentionality, but the rewards are well worth it.
Strategies for Overcoming Adversity and Thriving
Staying positive and maintaining a good outlook can be challenging when life gets tough. However, you can overcome adversity and thrive in any situation with the right strategies. Here are some actionable steps you can take:
Make a list of all the good things in your life: Start by focusing on what's going right instead of dwelling on what's wrong. Write down some wonderful experiences you have had, no matter how trivial they may seem. Embrace gratitude for all those around you who care and support you.
Find joy in other things: Don't let bad events define or consume you. Instead, explore enjoyable activities like reading books, listening to music, or learning something new. Doing so will help shift your mindset from feeling overwhelmed with negative emotions to appreciating life.
Take control over your destiny by making conscious decisions about how you respond to whatever comes your way—good or bad. Choose optimism and positivity whenever possible; this will strengthen you when facing difficult times. Believe in yourself and strive for success despite any hardships that come along. Remember that every day brings fresh possibilities!
Life is full of surprises and unexpected events that sometimes seem unfair. However, accepting these realities and choosing to respond to them positively can help you gain control over your emotions and increase the level of joy and happiness in your life.
To practice positivity, you must make an effort and be intentional. One way to do this is by focusing on the positive aspects of your life. Take some time to reflect on your blessings, and surround yourself with people and activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. Even small moments of happiness can make a big difference in your overall outlook on life.
It is important to remember that you are in charge of your happiness and well-being. Taking conscious steps to overcome challenges and thrive can create a life full of resilience, hope, and joy. Every moment presents an opportunity to learn, grow, and find contentment, no matter how unpredictable life may be.
These tips help you navigate life's challenges and embrace their unpredictability. Remember to stay positive and strong, and you can overcome anything.
Manuel Saez 👉 manuelsaez.com