“Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and
I’ll show you someone who has overcome adversity.” — Lou Holtz

Success in life depends upon being strong people with clear
goals and indomitable spirits. Unfortunately most of us aren’t born that way.
We grow that way. And that growth can either come from us entering willfully
into situations that will cause us to grow, like subscribing to Made for
Success, or from the way we react when circumstances come upon us without our
consent. The latter is what we call adversity.

Most of us spend our lives trying to avoid adversity, and I
guess that is just as well. We shouldn’t pursue adversity, but when she
arrives, we should welcome her as a foe who, though our interaction with her,
will make us into better people. Every contact we have with adversity gives us
again the opportunity to grow personally and professionally and to forge our
character into one that will achieve much later on.

With that in mind, here are some thoughts on adversity, and
how it can help you to succeed in every area of your life and achieve your
dreams.

Adversity brings out our resources. Horace said
“Adversity reveals genius, prosperity conceals it.” When everything
is going well, we coast. There isn’t a lot of stress, and we don’t have to draw
too much on the resources that reside within us. But when adversity comes we
begin to draw upon each and every resource that we have in order to conquer the
circumstances at hand. Adversity then, keeps us sharp. It keeps us using our
personal muscle, if you will. That is a good thing because we grow through the
use of our resources.

Adversity brings us together with others. Sure a team can
have their problems with each other, but when they step on the court, when they
experience the adversity of facing another obstacle, they pull together. One
for all and all for one, as they say. The next time you experience adversity of
some kind, keep your eyes open for how it can bring you together with your
family, your co-workers or your team. Then when you are through it, you will
find a bond that was created that wasn’t there before.

Adversity makes us better people with stronger characters.
Never underestimate the power of adversity to shape us inwardly. How will
courage, discipline and perseverance ever flourish if we are never tested?
After adversity, we come out stronger people and able then to use our character
and influence in an even greater way to lead those around us and to improve
their lives as well as our own.

Adversity makes life interesting. John Amatt said,
“Without adversity, without change, life is boring.” How true. Have
you noticed that while we are in the middle of adversity we only long to get
out of it, but we then spend a lifetime recounting it to anyone who will
listen? This is because it spices life up a little. Imagine how boring life
would be if everything always went well, when there was never a mountain to be
climbed.

Question – If you are in the middle of some adversity right
now, what resources are you drawing on? Who are you drawing closer to and
working with? What part of your character is being tested, and built up? What
can you do to view this adversity as one who will be better for it on the other
side?

Remember the words of Napoleon Hill – “Every adversity,
every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater
benefit.” Believe it, it is true!

This article is excerpted from the Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan co-authored by
Chris Widener. To hear (or see) what Chris Widener has to say about the Jim
Rohn One-Year Success Plan or to join Chris and Jim Rohn as part of the Jim
Rohn One-Year Success Plan go to http://jr1.jimrohn.com or call 800-929-0434.