The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity. – Seneca
This man knew adversity. He was brave, and in doing, he became great. The struggle continues; for the victory is in daring to take the walk, and not the destination.
What does that mean?
There are always troubles in our lives. We are all, at times, great. And we all have the opportunity to be brave at some point. Together, it is an awesome sight to see.
When adversity comes, as it does to all of us, we are faced with many options. We can attempt to resist, we can attempt to overcome, or we can simply do nothing, and accept our fate.
In my opinion, the simple act of defiance, the attempt to deal with adversity, raises anyone to greatness. People might not notice, but that does not make them any less great.
But to face adversity, that takes bravery. Be brave, face adversity, and become great. Because it’s not about winning, it’s about making the effort.
Why is the struggle important?
We don’t always get what we want. But does that mean we shouldn’t even bother to try? I have learned a lot trying things that really weren’t possible. I learned about my limits, and was able to apply some of the techniques I developed there to other parts of my life. You probably have as well.
The point is the same as is life. It isn’t the destination, but the journey. When we have adversity, the point isn’t necessarily to overcome it, although that’s always nice. The point, in my opinion, is to try. What you learn can be invaluable, not just to you, but to the world.
Consider the odds Mahatma Gandhi faced when he set out to free India from colonial rule. Was he the first to ever rebel in peace? Was he the first to consider struggling peacefully against an unwanted ruler? I seriously doubt it. Those who struggled before him taught him much, and contributed to his success.
Similarly, in the USA, slavery was an adversity for hundreds of years. Even after the slaves were freed, there was still adversity. Generations were born and died, still facing adversity. But the struggle has brought forth fruit, and life has been becoming better, however slowly. And that is what makes people both brave and great.
Where can I apply this in my life?
Adversity comes in many shapes and sizes. From friction and difficulty within the family and friends, to finances, to work, there is always something that isn’t going as well as you would like. You may use a different word, but the basic result is the same. Struggle ahead.
We use the word struggle for a lot of things, but in this case, we’ll use it for the action of opposing adversity. It could be verbally challenging someone who is being unhelpful. It could be climbing up out of a cavern or down from a tree. It could be a letter to the editor. It could be a hunger strike.
But the point is there is an adversity which is impacting your life. Some will accommodate the intrusion, and go on with their life. That is an easy path, even if it requires additional effort on your part to get the same things done as you had done before.
Some things are merely an annoyance. That, to me, doesn’t raise to the level of adversity, and can be ignored, at least for a while. What is going on in your life which you consider to be adversity? Think about all the different aspects of your life, and ponder for a moment or two.
How do you deal with these things? Which are you ignoring and which against which are you struggling? Is it the same struggle as always or do you adjust your struggle as you observe the results, or lack thereof? Gandhi and MLK both changed their methods as they learned what did and did not work.
Take a moment and select one adversity you are facing and consider what you could do. Even if you are presently doing something, consider what you might be able to do better, or at least differently, so that you could better judge what to try next.
Now take a moment and let your mind wander. Consider every other adversity you have ever faced, or heard (read, saw, …) about others facing any kind of adversity. What did they try, and how might you apply their techniques to your struggle? Learn from the experiences of others, right?
Now all that remains is to find the courage, to be brave enough, to do something about your adversity. In action, you become great. You might beat the adversity, but you can also inspire others. You can be a role model that others follow when facing their own adversity.
Remember, it’s not the victory but the struggle which makes a person great.
From: Twitter, @philo_quotes
confirmed at : http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/l/luciusanna120548.html
Photo by Alves Family
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