The Goodness of Adversity

The most terrifying fact about the universe is not that it is hostile but that it is indifferent; but if we can come to terms with this indifference and accept the challenges of life within the boundaries of death ... our existence as a species can have genuine meaning and fulfillment. However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light~Stanley Kubrick

The title of this post is ironic “The Goodness of Adversity” The word goodness can be defined as the quality or state of being good or beneficial. The word adversity can be defined as a condition of misfortune, hardship, difficulty, and distress. After defining these two words, you can clearly see the paradox within the phrase. I was reading the Book of Joy, a book written by Douglas Abrams from the perspectives of two of the world’s most influential spiritual leaders, Desmond Tutu and the 14th Dalai Lama. The book was dedicated to joy and the pathways to joy. How can one achieve joy within the difficulties, calamities, and the brutalities of this world?

One thing I learned after reading the book is that adversity has its ups fans downs, it can bring out the best and the worst out of us. It is always how you choose to react to your adversities that make a difference.

As 21 years old, I have encountered and learned about a few adversities that human beings frequently face such as grief, pain, and sorrow. Our response to adversity is rejection, we reject pain and suffering. It's in our nature to avoid anything that make us feel uncomfortable. Let's face it, nobody likes to feel like their world is crumbling and falling apart and that's usually how we feel about our problems. We never take time to appreciate the beauty of our conflicts. We all come across adversity but sometimes it's just a matter of putting one foot after another.

Adversity is one of the most important components in life, it creates a powerful force that can either break you or make you. Adversity serves as a reminder to the beauty of life. We cannot experience love without grief and vice versa. As uncomfortable and painful as grief might be, it is a reminder that the world is filled with love and sympathy.

Adversity is medicine to greatness, it is an unwanted prescription that mother earth gave to us. Adversity strengthens our core and helps us grow. Sometimes life can feel like the Everest mountain without an end. In order to grow, you have to know what pain feels like, that is the concept of life. Pain gives you the chance to bloom like a flower, to survive in the deepest darkest part of the ocean like the tube-worms. Life happens and the sorrow that come with it will makes you stronger, wiser and firm. Pain is like a medication that is being prescribe to you whenever you lose strength, hope, and faith. I urge you find the beauty within tragedies. I urge you to find positivity during these uncertain times.