Embrace the Storm: JB's Monday Momentum Week #4
Turning Challenges into Opportunities for Growth
Estimated reading time: four minutes
Hello friends,
Facing the challenges I've encountered has been instrumental in shaping the person I am today. Despite the initial difficulties and fears, I chose to welcome these obstacles, recognizing that they were opportunities for personal growth. Now, encountering obstacles doesn't instill fear; instead, it sparks excitement. I've come to understand that challenges transform me into a stronger, more complete individual. Today, let's explore adversity and ways to both embrace and overcome it.
If you missed last week’s edition, you can click here to check it out.
A Question I am Contemplating:
How can we respond to adversity?
Life is certain to throw challenges our way. Instead of shying away from these inevitable struggles, consider embracing them. What if we approached adversity with open arms, viewing it not as an obstacle but as an opportunity? This is the way it should be, and here are some ways to do so and things to remember.
Harness the power of perception to shape your reality. A negative perception leads to a negative reality, while a positive perception leads to a positive reality. Shakespeare puts it best: “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” You have the ability to choose how you perceive challenges. It's up to you whether you feel trapped or stand up to face the challenge head-on. We have the power to decide how we respond to obstacles; we are always in control of our actions.
Take action. Refuse to cave to inactivity. Do not allow obstacles to defeat you, but rather, let them inspire and propel you toward action. Embrace obstacles as opportunities to carve a new path and allow them to serve as your guide. It does not matter what happens to you; it only matters what you do with what happens. The only way to get through obstacles is via action, nothing else.
What you are worried about is probably not as bad as it seems. I’m not a fan of the “zoom out, we are so insignificant” argument, but there is some merit to it. If you’re looking at an obstacle in a big enough picture and long enough timeline, whatever you have to face is only a small blip on the way to your goal. The challenge you will face will come to pass, and if it doesn't, you will learn to live with it and will be a changed person.
I understand that some adversity may be insurmountable, no matter how hard you try. If this is the case, consider finding a way to harness the energy of adversity to benefit yourself. There is always, always, something positive that can be taken from challenging situations. It could be motivation, a valuable lesson that can be applied in other areas of life, or a unique perspective that opens new doors of understanding. You possess the strength and resilience to handle whatever comes your way.
If these ideas interest you, I recommend you check out The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday. It’s a great read that dives into these ideas in much more depth.
Quote on adversity:
“The impediment to action advances action, what stands in the way becomes the way.” — Marcus Aurelius
Goal for the Week:
Get my work done before 9:00 pm
Nothing revolutionary here: I have been working for too long into the night lately. Not because the work takes so long, but because I start too late. This is an easy problem to fix and only takes a bit of discipline. If I start my work earlier, I’ll go to bed earlier, get more sleep, and have a better day.
What I’m Reading:
The Good Life Method — Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko (64% done)
What I finished Reading:
A Little Life — Hanya Yangihara
I was recommended this book a long time ago, and bought it. It sat on my shelf for months, and honestly, I didn’t think I’d ever read it, but once I got around to it and started, I couldn’t stop. A Little Life will build you up and tear you down for 814 straight pages. The novel is beautifully written but incredibly heart-wrenching; just when you anticipate a turn for the better, it becomes even more devastating. I found myself deeply invested in the characters and often thinking about the book when not reading it. Amidst the sad stories, there are great themes of friendship, identity, and our role in supporting others. It feels a bit uncomfortable to recommend A Little Life given its heavy content, but I still suggest it. If you choose to read this book, be prepared for a long ride. I give A Little Life 4.5/5 stars.
What I’m listening to (one podcast, one artist, one song):
Caamp
Atlantic City — The Band
Thanks for reading! Don't forget to subscribe to stay updated for next week and feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Such a cool perspective. love reading these 😊😊