Truck difficulties - Difficultes de camion
Originally uploaded by Vincent Meyer

We all know the feeling - when sometimes it seems that the whole world is out to get you. Be it for a day, a week, or months on end - we all go through periods where the bad outweighs the good and nothing seems to be going quite the way we would've hoped. While the types and extremities of adversity we experience in our lives will vary tremendously from person to person - we all face similar emotional reactions to these adverse situations; it is how we deal with these emotions that varies. Ultimately, we want to deal with our feelings in such a way that we can make it through the difficult times and come out with a more positive outlook, we want to overcome our weaknesses, avoid falling prey to adopting a victim mentality and come out as a stronger & and more supreme version of ourselves. We should take with us the tools we use to gain strength and the lessons we've learnt from making our way from emotional low times to high times.

One of the most important factors in overcoming any type of adversity is recognition. Recognising there is a better way to live, that there are people that have been through what you are going through or worse and finally, that you are a person worthy of experiencing the best possible life. Spend some time in your head going over what you need out of life and what you deserve to have in your life. Remind yourself of all your positive attributes, your skills, why you're unique and decide that you deserve to have all those glowing, gleeful parts of you back - quite moping & moaning and reclaim yourself! Make the decision to shine, despite your hardships and not to suffer because of them. The power of positive thinking is not a new concept, it is a tried and true self help favourite, but it's so classically spot on in it's intent. You will attract what you put out - you put out glum and you'll keep it coming - so start smiling and recognise the difference.

It may sound harsh - but you need to love & respect yourself before you can expect the same from others. People are drawn to those with a strong & positive sense of self - so decide to take the reins in your life and stop relying on other people to boost your ego! Surround yourself with support, if you have the privilege of a close group of friends or family, as it's always nice to have loved ones to catch you when you fall - but if you feel as though, at this time, you don't have anyone close by to support you & see you through, realise that you'll always have yourself, no matter what. Be your own champion, stop relying on others to determine your self worth and enjoy the transition from adversity as a solo endeavour - you will gain emotional strength & character & come out the other side with positively renewed sense of love & respect for yourself.

Another important step in reclaiming positivity in the face of adversity is to not allow yourself to become the victim. When up against emotional or physical hardships it is so simple to allow yourself to become a victim of your circumstances; placing blame on someone or something that is disallowing you to prosper in your day to day. This is the easy road to a miserable rut - so break the mould and decide that you do not need someone elses permission to be happy. Decide that sometimes circumstances can not be helped, but misery and glum will certainly not assist in solving them. One fantastic way to overcome a bout of victim mentality is to throw yourself behind finding a solution. If someone close to you is ill, join in with a charity to fundraise for research into the illness. Be part of the solution. Choose to endure difficult times by focusing on big picture solutions rather than dwelling on your personal difficulties.

Overcoming personal misfortune makes way for happiness, look towards the light at the end of the tunnel and make the most of your experiences. Have you ever experiences unforeseen hardships - how did you deal with these hardships? How has adversity effected you?