Promise

“If you can’t live through adversity, you’ll never be good at what you do. You have to live through the unfair things, and you have to develop the hide to not let it bother you and keep your eyes focused on what you have to do.” 

— Maurice “Hank” Greenberg 

I will go one step further. 

It is simply not enough to live through adversity, to choose a path of tolerant coexistence and acceptance. Instead, you have to learn how to embrace another tack, and go far beyond just leaning into it.  

You have to figure out how to thrive in it.  Because if you are living right, adversity ain’t ever gonna be a “one and done” thing.  “If” that something just happens to happen. 

Adversity will then always be a “when” event.  

That is for certain. 

Because if you consistently push out beyond  your personal envelope of safety and constantly  venture out beyond the confines of comfort, you will be creating guarantors that produce  more than your fair share of adversity. The “when” will then always be the operative word to describe the frequency of adversity’s presence in all of your endeavors.

So perhaps at first, leaning directly into an increasing array of challenges isn’t always possible  or prudent.   After all, they are new surroundings. And this is an acquired taste. 

But in time, you will learn to thrive in this environment.  Not just in spite of it – but because of it.  You will develop a rare sense of perspective. Become adept at recognizing the opportunity that is hidden within every trial and tribulation. And then, proceed to shine in spite of it.

I promise.

Sure a thicker hide will help absorb and deflect the punishment those moments are bound to deliver as Mr. Greenburg asserts. 

But a stoutness of character paired with a resolute courage in your convictions will always help you to overcome just about anything. 

And not just  “if “ they do.  

But when they present themselves.

Then, once that begins to happen, things will no longer happen to you.  

You will begin to happen to them.  

I promise.