Adversity and The Perception of Losing

Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live. I am happy to see that you decided to stop by to visit with me. Thank you. Earlier today, I had a conversation with a friend of mine who is a boxer. For several minutes of our conversation we talked about what had been going on in our lives since the last time that we saw one another. As our conversation continued I asked him if he had any fights since the last time we spoke. He told me that he had a fight about 8 months ago, in which he had lost that fight to a decision. 

As we continued to speak about the fight, I sensed that he was discouraged by the outcome of the fight. At that time I felt led to share a life changing lesson, that I had learned through my martial arts training.

As our conversation continued, I shared with my friend how for many years I critically assigned negative worth and value to myself as an individual, when I was unable to meet specific outcomes When I was unable to meet those expectations, I found that I judged my efforts. I shared with my friend that I was unable to value or celebrate what I had learned on my way of trying to meet those expectations. I then went on to share what I had learned through my training in the martial arts. I discovered that the process of what I learned on my journey was of greater importance.

I am finding more and more that I see what I am looking for in my life. I am finding that I can consciously change my perception of what occurs in my life.  

I shared with my friend, that as I stopped judging my efforts – based on expectations and outcomes – I was able to begin to celebrate what I was learning through my training. I was able to stop focusing on what was not happening to what was happening through my experience. I shared with him that I was able to stop looking at what I saw as adversity, and begin looking for the opportunity with in my adversity. As I shared what I learned through my experience, my friend thanked me for what I shared and told me he would begin looking at his training in that way. 

Today’s Thought

In life, you may have adversity and losing my friend. Your adversity and losing may leave you feeling discouraged and disheartened. I have been there too – discouraged and disheartened – but let me share with you what I have learned through my experience. Adversity and losing is merely an illusion. Adversity and losing is merely an opportunity to rise again. Adversity and losing births new lessons. Adversity and losing teaches knowledge and wisdom. Adversity and losing shows us what does not work. Adversity and losing opens doors that would have otherwise remained closed.

Adversity and losing helps us to sharpen our tools. Adversity and losing draw us closer to excellence. Adversity and losing gives us the power to choose. Adversity and losing builds us up. Adversity and losing helps us to let go. Adversity and losing empowers our ability to ask for help. Adversity and losing encourages us to look for solutions. Adversity and losing motivates us to trust the process, a loving God and ourselves. Adversity and losing instill hope.

“What we see depends mainly on what we look for.” Sir John Lubbock

“Dreams do not vanish, so long as people do not abandon them.” Phantom F. Harlock

“Effective people are not problem minded; they’re opportunity minded. They feed on opportunities and starve problems.” Steven R. Covey

“An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity; a pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity.”  Sir Winston Churchill

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