When adversity comes, your response matters. There is a normal process of coping which often includes allowing yourself to fully experience the emotions that arise in you and accept the true magnitude of the situation. In addition, allowing yourself to grieve is very healthy. While the word grief is traditionally associated with the death of loved one, it is helpful to recognize we grieve varied areas in our life. These may include, but are not limited to: loss of a relationship/friendship, change in employment status, reduction or loss of independence, change in expectations, learning of disappointing news, physical or mental health changes, unmet goals, or canceled plans.
Given the wide application of situations in which we are faced with and grieve through, it is helpful to consider, “what can I learn with/from/through/during this situation?” The answer may be buried deep inside or conspicuous at the surface, but it will be there. Discovering, exploring, and putting into practice what you see is hard work and may open the pathway for growing, healing, and strengthening.
With your next challenge, adversity, or difficulty, I challenge you to search for what you can learn and see how you will grow.