Overcoming Adversity - A walk through Hard Times
Posted: Thursday, June 03, 2010
by Abhy Medkul
There is no teacher like adversity. The lines from Shakespeare's work "As You Like It" are a whole measure of truth packed into a few words. The duke is banished into the Forest of Arden . It proves to be a difficult time for one who has led a life of comfort and luxury and where pomp and show of wealth has been a part of life. Away from all that the duke learns some important lessons while battling the odds, as he is able to see the real face of life.
The best way to deal with hard times is to hold onto one's patience and good sense. Endurance and fortitude can make this test of destiny easier to cope with. Anger, disappointment and impulsive actions are often the catalysts for disaster. On the contrary if virtue of patience is exercised then one can hope to gain much from the hard time that fall in one's share. One has to only look around and there are numerous individuals who have set precedents by their extraordinary resilience and tenacity in the face of troubles. Santiago the fisherman in Ernest Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea' is a matchless source of inspiration for those who find their hands full and feel that any more would break them. Even though the future may appear dark and the failures are repeated, the will to take on life as it comes should not die out.
There are several individuals who are severely physically challenged, yet they have made a mark through their steely resolve to overcome their handicap. One look through the live of people like Helen Keller and Stephen Hawking should make the normal' people count their blessing and stop wallowing their miseries. If there is a desire to do something; a fire burning within then nothing can be a constraint. Rather the hurdles and hindrances become the driving force.
A determination to crush the reasons for one's trouble can lead to some astounding results. How else could India have won its freedom from over two centuries of oppressive rule? The victims of racial discrimination in South Africa fought and got back their freedom and dignity. The Jews have always been persecuted as a race but they have resurged like no other. Despite being the targets en masse in Nazi Germany, they have proved that it is very hard to keep them down. Today most of the rich men across the globe who have made enviable empires are the Jews. It is true that adversity brings out the best in men. It takes away the smugness of individuals and communities, a feeling that is a characteristic of good times. . In adversity they unite forgetting petty differences and lash out as one force.
But not all men are strong willed. It is very easy to get bogged down by the troubles that lie ahead and finish off before even getting started. It is said that a battle lost in the mind is completely lost in reality. Hopelessness and anguish can cause nothing but damage. One has to go through the rigours of life to become a better individual. Even the Bhagwad Gita says "when the embodied living being controls his nature and mentally renounces all actions, he resides happily in the city of nine gates (the human body)." So to say that if one has control over ones emotions then suffering cannot come to him / her even in the hardest of times.
Simply the outlook and approach to a situation changes its impact. Tough times can be viewed as hard task masters who are out to give some important lessons. There is no escaping them and playing truant would bring in more trouble.
The words of Francis Bacon still hold a lot of import. He expounds the virtue of fortitude and glorifies adversity-" It was the high speech of Seneca (after the manner of stoics) that the good things that belong to prosperity are to be wished; and the good things that belong to adversity are to be admired. Bona rerum secunderum optabilia, adversarum mirabilia. Certainly if miracles be the command over nature they appear the most in adversity".
Hard times will be there. Life must go on. They only strengthen the resolve and impart lessons that will not be given by any teacher. One must fortuitously go through them and only then will one find ,
" Tongues and trees, books and running brooks
Sermons and stones and good in everything".
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)It does seem to be an inescapable fact! When I'm in the thick of adversity I hate it, but once I'm out realise how much I've gained, and know that I wouldn't change anything.That is so true. The moment/ span of time when you are facing trial is extremely difficult. but once it has gone...you know it inside that you've moved a notch higher.Abhy
A very good article on overcoming the difficulties in life,i myself have had some very bad times and with the help of my family i overcame these its nice to see that you have such a good understanding.It is wonderful to have support when in trouble. Thank you for the appreciation Herdeep.Abhy
Hi Abhy I liked your article...interesting about the Jews is that they have a huge sense that God is still with and for them and that they are blessed...with this mindset is it any wonder they strive ahead after going through hard times...Well said Craig. I do believe that if you allow God to lead, your life can have a smooth flow.Abhy
I loved your article Abhy. It is walking through the hard times and learning to see the good in every situation that gives us victory and over situations. Thank you for sharing.Thank you Linda, for the good word.:)Abhy
Once again, Thank you for a very good article. It was very interesting!Thank you Michael. For the appreciation and feedback.Bests.Abhy
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