6 Types of Adversity and 13 Ways to Overcome Your Struggles

We all face adversity in our lives…

And it always sucks – whether you seek to overcome adversity in your career or business, struggling with relationships, enduring physical injury, or dealing with self-doubt and other mental issues.

But surprisingly, adversity has its upsides.

The most difficult moments often provide our greatest lessons and opportunities. And many people were able to turn adversity into a superpower.

Yes – really!

Of course, it rarely feels like an opportunity or valuable lesson in the heat of the moment. It simply just sucks.

So, how can you overcome adversity and turn it into power?

Well, when you’re facing adversity, the key is to make progress to slowly regain your momentum. And in this article, you will learn how to do that.

We will cover the following:

• What is adversity exactly?
• The 6 types of adversity with examples
• 13 Super-practical ways to overcome adversity

Let’s dive in!

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The meaning of adversity

Adversity is a state of continued struggle, hardship, and difficulty that causes prolonged distress – often caused by a major or a series of unfortunate events outside your control.

Adversity, by definition, cannot be avoided.

Instead, you should learn the right coping strategies to better handle adversity and keep motivating yourself when it arises.

6 Types of adversities in life – with examples

Everything in life happens in cycles – like the seasons of a year. 

Winters follow summers and vice versa.

And your life follows a similar cycle. You’ve got great times – your summers. And you’ll have lesser times – your winters.

In other words, you will face adversity in life.

And whilst everyone’s experience is unique, in general, there are 6 types of adversity you may be dealing with:

Type 1: Physical adversity

Physical adversity results from an unfortunate event that causes restraint in your physical abilities.

Example: An athlete gets injured just before the start of the Olympics, which they worked for their entire life.

Another example: You’re born without legs or lose them in an accident. Zion Clark is such a man who turned physical difficulty into his superpower by setting a world record for the fastest 20 meters on two hands.

Both examples may not relate to you. But physical adversity comes in various degrees. And if you enjoy exercising, you might know just how annoying injuries can be…

Type 2: Mental adversity

Mental adversity relates to mental struggles such as depression, self-doubt, and other mental health issues.

Example: You see no way out of your current situation and experience depression.

Another example: You experience self-doubt in your skills at work, which blocks you from getting a promotion.

Data shows that 1 out of 5 adults in the U.S. experiences mental issues at any time – and that was pre-COVID. In other words, you’re likely to experience mental adversity at least once in your lifetime.

Type 3: Emotional adversity

Emotional adversity happens when you lack emotional awareness and understanding or control over it.

Example: You feel stuck and frustrated but can’t figure out why.

Another example: You experience sadness after a breakup and struggle to deal with it.

Emotional adversity is not always easy to catch. I’ve struggled with my emotions for most of my teenage years – simply because I lacked self-awareness and self-understanding.

Type 4: Social adversity

Social adversity comes in various degrees and ranges from your inability to communicate well and hold basic conversations to being unable to maintain healthy relationships.

Example: You’re at a networking party but fearful of talking to people because you’re unsure what to say.

Another example: You want to ask a girl out for a date but feel too awkward to do so.

Social events always terrified me as an introvert, especially when it came to talking to pretty girls. If you’re experiencing something similar, know that you can improve your social skills.

Type 5: Spiritual adversity

Spirituality is about a higher state of consciousness. It seeks to discover the truth and extends far beyond religion or materialism.

In that context, spiritual adversity refers to distress resulting from losing faith or connection to the truth or what you consider the truth.

Example: You’re losing the belief that everything will work out in the end.

Another example: You stop having faith in the Universe, God, or any higher power that used to give you strength.

Type 6: Financial adversity

Financial adversity is very common and refers to a major setback or the inability to pay for necessities – or what you consider necessities.

Example: As a result of inflation, you struggle to pay your rent and other basic needs.

Another example: You invested in a single stock of a company that crashes and loses 95% of its value.

Third example: You lose your job due to a company restructuring.

Currently, there’s a lot of turbulence in the markets. So, are you prepared for the possible adverse times ahead of us?

13 Ways to push through adversity 

The six types of adversity provide self-awareness, which is an essential first step. And despite your potential efforts to avoid difficulty, it will happen like the seasons in a year.

You see, adversity isn’t the problem.

You can count on it happening – you just never know when and how it does.

It’s almost always a surprise…

But, whilst you cannot avoid it, you can prepare for it. And you can learn how to respond to adversity effectively.

Are you ready to improve your ability to overcome adversity?

#1: Identify your struggle

The first step starts with understanding the real issue.

What’s affecting you the most?

A lack of self-awareness is the main thing that got me stuck in a negative feedback loop for years.

Making effective changes requires self-awareness.

It’s why we just covered the different types of adversity that can come your way, including the examples.

Ask yourself why you’re facing adversity.

And go beyond useless answers like “my business didn’t succeed because of the government”, “my boss is an asshole”, or “because of inflation…”.

Even though all of that could be TRUE – what now?

If that’s the frame of reference you want to stick with, you just gave your power away. And your boss, the government, or the economy isn’t going to save you…

So ask yourself: what’s affecting you, and what can you do differently?

What is the best possible action you can take to overcome adversity right now? And how can you prepare better next time?

Ask better quality questions, and you will get more empowering answers.

#2: Own your hardships

When you face adversity, stop for a second and ask yourself the following question:

Are you resisting it in some way?

That could come in various forms, like denial, blaming, or complaining about the circumstances.

Resisting adversity isn’t helpful.

In fact, it’s outright increasing the pain you’re experiencing. The more you resist, the more it magnifies the experience.

What to do instead?

Accept the situation. 

No matter how difficult it is, you’re in it. And when you accept the situation, something interesting happens…

You’ll feel more relaxed.

And your mind clears up.

You regain personal power, which gives you the ultimate ability to think about creative solutions.

And that’s when life transformations happen.

But it starts with acceptance and then taking responsibility – even when the situation is NOT your fault.

#3: Gain strength from the experience

You may feel like you’re crumbling in the face of adversity.

But how often have you been there before?

It’s likely not your first rodeo. 

Sure, it may be your first breakup, the first setback in your career, or the first difficulties you encounter in your business. But looking back at your life, how often have you overcome different types of adversity?

You probably struggled back then – and made it out alive.

Perhaps it even made you stronger…

What if you have 0 reference points?

If it’s your first time dealing with adversity, know it always sucks. But also know that these moments often provide the greatest lessons and opportunities.

More about that in a minute…

If you’re still young and don’t have many references, you can look for those who’ve experienced what you’re going through.

Who overcame something similar?

How did they overcome it? And how did they come out on the other end? 

You can gain strength from your own experience or those you admire.

#4: Seek growth

Every challenging situation provides a unique opportunity to accelerate your personal or professional growth. 

It’s not easy to see that in the heat of the moment… but it’s true.

You can grow through adversity.

You see, difficult moments allow you to upgrade your knowledge, habits, and skills. 

Here’s how some famous people dealt with adversity and turned it into their superpower:

• J.K. Rowling felt like the biggest failure after failing her marriage, becoming a single mother, jobless, and barely having a penny. In exchange, she got determination.
• Steve Jobs was devastated after being fired from his own company, Apple. In hindsight, he said it was the best thing that could’ve happened to him. Why? Because it ignited his most creative period.
• Albert Einstein couldn’t speak fluently until the age of 9, was dismissed from school, and was refused entry into another one. Not great at a time when formal education was essential… Yet, we all know him as a genius today.
• Michael Jordan lost many games and even game-winning shots he was trusted with. But what came out of it was a deep intrinsic motivation to outwork everyone.

When dealing with adversity, know that it hides a unique opportunity for self-improvement.

#5: Find the opportunity in adversity

Growth is only one of the many opportunities that arise during difficult times. And although an important one, there are more chances out there.

A recession is an excellent example of this.

While a recession comes with financial adversity for most people, those who are prepared can greatly benefit from it.

Amazon dropped 90% in value during the dot-com bust. And Airbnb started in 2007, just before the 2008 real estate crash. 

Both companies not only survived but thrived.

But you don’t have to start a billion-dollar company. If you saved money and invested in the S&P500 or Dow Jones index during the last recession, you would’ve made over 300% as of 2022.

But what about other types of adversity?

Well, there’s always something to find. 

For example, if you overcome your weight loss struggles, you can use your experience to help others overcome theirs – and make an impact in the world.

And losing your job could become your cue to start the business you’ve been thinking about for years. Many people need a little push to start living to their fullest potential.

What’s the opportunity for you?

One way to discover more opportunities is by shifting your mindset from scarcity to abundance. An abundant attitude will help you overcome adversity.

#6: Laugh in the face of adversity

I get it; adversity is tough – but so are you.

And good news: it’s not going to last forever. 

Not unless you keep feeding it. 

You see, you can give your struggle more power – or take away from it. One way to reduce its intensity is by accepting the fact that it’s there.

Another way is through humor.

Resilient people can joke and laugh about their failures and misfortunes. 

Laughter evokes positive emotions and makes you feel good. It’s a way to trade part of that negative energy for positivity. 

Of course, adversity is challenging. 

And perhaps joking about a business failure or losing a loved one isn’t the right play. But you can always find humor in funny or quirky past experiences. 

Find ways to put a smile back on your face.

#7: The 1% Rule to cope with adversity

In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear explains that you should focus on improving yourself by 1% daily.

You see, everyone focuses on the BIG change.

But the big changes happen when you make tiny changes consistently. That’s the secret to exponential self-improvement. 

How does it apply to overcoming adversity?

Well, when adversity happens, most people get stuck. They stop doing the very things that help them overcome it.

You stop going to the gym.

You stop taking general care of yourself.

You start isolating yourself more and more.

And you start eating more junk foods and snacks.

In other words, most of the time, when facing adversity, we deprive ourselves of the cure. So, the faster you start doing those basic things again, the quicker you overcome your struggles.

Make forward progress again.

Start by creating a simple habit you may have stopped doing. Or you can develop another good habit that could benefit you.

Focus on tiny, incremental steps forward.

And keep taking consistent action.

#8: Keep the big picture in mind

You can experience difficulties for days, weeks, or months. Or, if you’re experiencing something like me, for years…

The good news?

It’s still only a fraction of your life.

And the sooner you regain control and reclaim your power, the faster you can turn your struggles into your strength.

You see, in my teenage years, life seemed hopeless.

Even though I had a good education, friends, and everything a teenager supposedly could ask for, I struggled with mental and social challenges.

It sucked.

But it also encouraged me to learn about myself. It ignited my continuous self-improvement journey. And looking back at my 20s, I couldn’t be happier about that.

In fact, I’m super excited about my 30s. 

Zoom out for a second. 

Take a look at your entire life, from the day you were born until your old age. How much of this journey is still unknown? And how small is this obstacle you experience as adversity?

Gaining perspective can reduce its intensity.

#9: Find your purpose

We already mentioned that your biggest struggles could become your greatest superpowers. And you can get a sense of purpose and meaning from it.

You can gain purpose from your struggle.

But you can also find your purpose in anything else – and gain strength from that to overcome adversity.

What are you willing to fight for?

Finding purpose makes your struggles more meaningful. And it gives you the power to push through adversity. 

What’s your purpose?

#10: Maintain a positive mental attitude

It’s not what happens to you but how you interpret those events that cause the struggle.

And learning how to reframe them is an essential life skill.

Of course, terrible things happen… And many of them will be entirely outside of your control…

Yet, you can always choose your response. You can always decide your perspective. And you can always choose what to do next.

How to do that?

Ask yourself the following when you face difficulties:

• What good can come from this?
• What could you be grateful for?
• What opportunities does this present?
• And what can YOU do next?

These questions shift a negative and inactive mindset to a more positive mental attitude and a forward-looking one.

It’s an empowering life skill to learn.

#11: Belief in yourself

To live an extraordinary life, you must work more on yourself than anything else you know.

You are your biggest asset.

You can learn anything if you set your mind to it. And you have the power to overcome any obstacle that life throws at you.

Yes, it takes effort.

And yes, you must let go of the short-term attitude that haunts most people. Success requires patience – and so does overcoming adversity. 

Nothing great happens in a day.

The biggest challenges require effort and time to overcome. 

But if you’re willing to work on yourself, your mindset, skills, and habits, you will overcome adversity and succeed.

As a bonus, you will develop resilience and self-confidence, empowering you to tackle any future challenge.

#12: Prepare for the worst

When times are tough, people expect that to last forever. And when times are good, people can’t imagine it will ever be bad again.

But life happens in cycles.

Like the seasons in a year…

After the rain, you can bet on the fact that the sun will come. And vice versa. There’s no escaping those cycles.

And if you realize that, you can prepare.

You can prepare for the darker seasons of your life by staying humble, seeking growth, and seeking discomfort when times are great. 

That will prepare you for a rainy day.

A good example is our current economy. We know that a recession is bound to happen at some point. But how many people are prepared for it?

More importantly, what are you doing to prepare yourself?

#13: Do not give up – EVER

Failures are merely stepping stones towards success. And adversity is only a season that will disappear.

The good news?

Setbacks provide experience.

Going through the seasons of life allows you to grow, get stronger, and become wiser. 

And as long as you persist, there really is NO failure.

You might feel that way – but that’s only temporary. Unfortunately, you often lack that perspective when you’re in a heated moment of difficulty. 

But after the fact?

You will be glad that you didn’t give up. In fact, you will most likely appreciate the lessons you’ve learned.

So, do NEVER give up – life is too valuable.

What’s next?

We highlighted the importance of facing adversity in life and how you can turn it into a source of growth and empowerment. 

Key takeaways:

• Adversity is an inevitable part of life, but it can be an opportunity for personal growth and learning.
• The six types of adversity include physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual, and financial challenges.
• Prepare for difficult times and never give up, as setbacks can lead to valuable experiences and, ultimately, more fulfillment.

Further resources to dive deeper into this topic:

• Best confidence courses to build resilience
• Best self-esteem and self-confidence books
• Best guided journals for self-exploration

Take action: Challenge yourself to identify the type of adversity you are currently facing and choose one of the practical ways provided to start building momentum today.

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