Facing Adversity With A Smile

“We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.”
-Mother Teresa

How are you doing with this new and interesting COVID lifestyle? but more importantly. How can you face adversity with a smile? Is it even at all possible?

We live at times where massive transformation is taking place around the world and close to home. Change is all around us. Working from home, social distancing, homeschooling, and other preventive measures have affected so many of us in so many ways.

For myself, I had to take a step back before I could form a perspective. I now see it as the new way of life at both aspects; personal and professional. The question is…how do we handle the newness of the change… better yet… how can we thrive when thoughts of fear and worry take over our minds?

Under pressure…

Adversity is defined by adverse or unfavorable circumstances. While it helps us by bringing our strengths to the surface crossing the path of adversity can be nerve-racking.

Looking for a wholesome way to deal with it?

Mark Twain said it best… “The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter. When faced with adversity, a smile may just be our best weapon.

For sure a simple smile can transport us into a more positive mindset and help us stay in the “here & now.” A few days ago, right at the beginning of the sunset, as I was washing the dishes in mom’s kitchen I heard me saying to her “Another day went by without accomplishing all that I wanted to do today. I have a dream and no matter what I do I don’t feel I’m getting any closer.”   

My mom, a cancer patient since this April, responded to me with a great smile as she started to sing with heart “Pretend you’re happy when you’re blue…” I couldn’t help it but smile back at my mother…truly a happy smile. Next thing I knew we were singing together “…It isn’t very hard to do…“

At that moment, magic happened. The weight of fear and worry was replaced by the lightness of inner peace and tremendous hope. New brighter thoughts entered my consciousness and I heard me thinking: “As certain as the sun will rise tomorrow, I will get another chance to bring me closer to my dream.  I now focus on what’s really important.  A step at a time.  All in divine order.

Try it for size, see if it suits you…

Ready to try an experiment? As you think of a problem you are facing in your life right now, begin to smile and maybe even hum a melody. At first, it feels kind of awkward but stay with it. Keep smiling and a new outlook will begin to emerge from within you.

Before you know thoughts of… “maybe it’s not as bad as I think it is” begin to show up. The attitude of “yes I can” starts to build. The way of positive thinking that sounds like ”Yes, I can figure out the solution and find a way to get through this hardship” becomes your default way of looking at challenges.

How does that feel?  Awesome right?

When you connect with the power of the mind everything is possible. Think of the challenges you have been through in your life. I am sure some of them were as big as the Tsunami wave, yet you persevered, navigated rough terrains, and got you through it. By definition of being human, you are strong, you are resilient, you are capable.

So, when the going gets tough remember to remember who you truly are, how much you have overcome in your life, and how much more you can overcome just because of who you are!

New Thinking-Style = New Living-Style

Change is constant. New struggles, new ways of thinking and new living styles are therefore constantly emerging. Focus on mastering a positive attitude by practicing new thoughts that sound like:

“I am more than I think I am.”

“I am bigger than my circumstances.

“I want, I can, and I will!”

If life was a game, then it’s all in the attitude you choose to play with. I highly recommend you move into the energy of positive thinking and make it a habit. For sure, our world needs it more now than ever.

Final thoughts…

The good news is that to shift your energy from negative to positive is easier than you think it is. All you have to do is make it your daily choice and decide to stay with it throughout your day. Get stuck? Get in touch. I can help.

Think happy, become happy, and as my wise friend Martin says, “positivity is everything!” I will now leave you with the following quote by Molière…

“The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.”