Adversity. Resilience.They travel together- locked arm in arm. Without adversity, there is no resilience. Billy Graham said it best when he stated, “Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity. Out of pain and problems have come the sweetest songs, the most poignant poems, the most gripping stories and most inspiring lives.” Nature also has made a statement about adversity and continues to do so every day. Look at the adversity the larvae faces as it struggles to break through the chrysalis on route to its freedom. It’s in the larvae’s struggle that the liquid from its swollen body is forced into its wings. Eventually, a butterfl y emerges! Take away the adversity- the larvae’s resilient struggle, we are simply left with a caterpillar. Amidst COVID 19, we as a human race are facing adverse times. Social isolation, depression, anxiety, suicide, and addiction are on the rapid rise. Unemployment and the stress of home schooling has added fuel to the fi re. Perhaps the biggest adverse challenge has been the lack of predictability. I have found that people can often handle stress and diffi cult times if they know what challenge they are facing and if there is an end date. The unknowns of the COVID-19 virus have not provided this information and is the very defi nition of adversity. So how does one develop strength and resilience? I would humbly suggest building and committing to a healthy, simple habit. This will provide you strength and predictability. The positive mental health will be an add-on bonus. One habit I have developed over the years is taking a daily 30-minute walk fi rst thing in the morning. During that time, I get my physical, mental, and spiritual exercise. I pray and meditate on God’s will and word over my life. His peace then calms me and His will for me grounds me. My mind is renewed. Also, the physical nature of the walk releases endorphins which elevates my emotional health. On several occasions, I have returned home from my walk to fi nd my daughters awake. Being younger and involved in competitive sports, they often poke fun at me stating that during my morning routine, I don’t even break a sweat. I am quick to point out however that while I do not travel far nor fast, I am faithful. This makes a world of difference. If you are struggling with adversity and all of the noise that is out there, shut it down. Again, build a simple routine or habit and commit to it. United States Admiral William H. McRaven agrees and has written all about this as well. He further sugPage 11 gests that if you want to change the world, start off by making your bed. Adversity nor trauma need to lead to a post-traumatic stress disorder. In fact, they often build resilience under most circumstances. A vast majority of the time, people develop post traumatic strengths. Today, take that one fi rst step to start a positive habit and resilience will follow.
12 Publizr Home