I Didn’t See That Coming

I Didn’t See That Coming

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” — Maya Angelou


Adversity means a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune; opposition, hostility, misfortune, or hardship.


Some examples of adversity may include:
*Disability
*Handicap
*Rejection
*Proving Someone Wrong
*Growing up Poor
*Getting Fired or Laid off
*Suffering an Injury
*Suffering Discrimination


Adversity.
Who on Earth has not experienced that thing called adversity? Is there a way to control it before it happens? Do you know the answer? I surely don’t.


I’ve had enough adversity in my life to know it’s not something you push under a rug and expect it not to reappear. It’s always going to be something to upset or disturb your groove.


You hope to obtain a better job to continue providing for your family-increased pay, decent health insurance, and a supervisor with your best interest at heart. Bam! Then it happens. You go through the interview, and at the end, the director says to you, “I’m impressed with your skills and education, but I’ll never hire an African American as part of my management team.”


How are you supposed to react to that? Here’s another one. You’re excited about a job interview which seems promising. During the process, the manager slips in sexual innuendos and makes subtle advances toward you.


Your comfort level hits rock bottom. You cringe because the interview is a bust. What do you do? Excuse yourself, go to the ladies' room to regroup, then leave the building, explaining that you’re not feeling well and can’t continue the interview.


Adversity does not discriminate based on race, gender, religion, or age. When facing adversity and you’re a person with low self-esteem, have a pessimistic outlook on life because of past experiences, come from a low socioeconomic environment, and your confidence level is negative zero, facing adversities is too much to bear.


Growing up in Suffolk, Virginia, I faced more adversity than I care to admit. At that time, I had no idea that’s what it was. I only knew my childhood was a nightmare at school and home.

I was called ugly and teased so much I wondered if that was all some of my classmates saw in me. My hair was rarely appropriately combed. I wore clothes given to my mother by the people whose houses she cleaned. The clothes were old-fashioned and mildewed. The items sat in their garages marked as trash until my mother brought the clothes home for me. I rarely wore new clothes.


By middle school, my feet were so big some of my classmates called me Big Foot. I was tall and lanky, with a size nine foot by then. This teasing and belittling continued right up through high school.


My fifth-grade social studies teacher even called me ugly when my pencil fell on the floor, and I got up to get it while he was talking. He stopped talking abruptly, stared at me, and said, “Viola, sit your ugly self down!”


My 10th-grade journalism teacher asked me why I wanted to be a journalist. She suggested I seek another profession because my writing wasn’t good by any means.


I’m going to stop here. I think you get my point. My adversity multiplied throughout my life-marriage, finances, and fitting in as an adult socially.


I’ve overcome more than you could imagine. Sometimes I pinch myself because I couldn’t have envisioned my transformation either. My growth as an adult has been remarkable. As I continue to grow, develop, and learn, I honestly have so much for which I’m thankful and grateful. Guess what? I’ve met some wonderful, amazing people along my journey of transformation.


I will never stop learning and working daily to make my life better. I have a testimony. And, I want to use it to help others.


From the bottom of my heart, I can say that you should never let what others think of you define you. If you’re currently in that situation, please find a way to start working your way out of that pit. It’s a process.


Find a process that works for you. Be persistent, steadfast, and determined to climb out of the pit of degradation and negativity. If you lose some people on the way out of your dungeon of doom, it’s alright. Leave the guilt as well. So what if they don’t like the new, emerging you?


One of my favorite quotes: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” – Socrates.


Overcoming Adversity
Change Your Focus: too much on the negative can lead to a psychological phenomenon known as a self-fulfilling prophecy.


Journaling: Journaling is a simple way of penning what’s going on, along with your thoughts and feelings. It’s a therapeutic process.


Block Bad Noise: Many in your circle will have opinions; most are not helpful or constructive. Some opinions can make matters worse and bring you down. This usually brings about self-doubt. Try blocking negativity in various ways, such as: practicing self-care, staying positive [seek uplifting avenues], move your mindset to a different space by engaging in activities that promote self-care and positivity, and setting clear boundaries and staying grounded.


Never Be Afraid To Try Again or Start Over: Rejection [professional or personal], is a difficult thing to accept, which makes it hard to move forward. Never allow rejection by one individual to rule or control your fate by using energy to focus on that rejection.

Overcoming Adversity Quotes
“You can use the stumbling blocks to build your success.” – Lailah Gifty Akita

“When adversity strikes, that’s when you have to be the most calm. Take a step back, stay strong, stay grounded and press on.”– LL Cool J

“Adversity, which looks and feels like such a determined enemy, can become a valuable ally. Only you can decide which it will be.” – Joni Eareckson Tada

“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” – Dale Carnegie

“Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end.” – Roy T. Bennett


Quotes About Overcoming Adversity
https://www.happierhuman.com/adversit...





Edited by: Michael A. Robinson Jr