“If we never faced adversity, our well-being would not be as sweet.”
-Terry Kellogg
How do the words above resonate with you?
Pause here for a moment and free yourself from distractions:
Take a deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... calm your mind and be present...
How would you define adversity? Your personal definition...
Oxford dictionary defines it this way:
adversity /noun/
difficulties; misfortune
Iyanla Vanzant has a different perspective. Adversity is not automatically a negative thing. A shifting of ones mindset can turn it around. She wrote:
-I know there is a power for good in the universe and I call that power forth right now to perfect every condition in my life.
-Be ye transformed by the renewing of you mind!
Adversity, I agree, is not pleasant, comfortable or fun. But laughter just might be a welcomed cure.
How to laugh in the face of adversity, according to a neurologist (by, Tanyel Mustafa)
1. Avoid knee-jerk reactions: Count to 10 give your higher (but slower) brain regions a chance to get involved.
2. Identify the true cause: Ask yourself if the thing you’re frustrated at is genuinely that bad, or actually more a “final straw” situation.
3. Imagine telling a friend: We often see the funny side to things when confiding in a close friend who there’s good banter with. Think to yourself, how would you tell a friend about what’s happened to you? practicing them ahead of time can help you see it that way.
4. Try out a chuckle: ‘Laughing openly at the amusing aspects of a stressful experiences can make them seem more humorous. That might mean forcing out a laugh to get started. kick-starting the humor response can give it more sway over how you react to things.
5. Vent to see the funny side: Venting about a stressful situation can be cathartic, but following it up with laughter at the amusing aspects can stop you dwelling on the negatives long-term.
“Simply pledging to try and see the positive or funny side to everyday situations will have a powerful instant impact on your mental and physical wellbeing.”
Today’s Challenge: Laugh in the face of adversity.
When a major problem is weighing you down:
stop and change your mental channel to something guaranteed to make you laugh.
What are you willing to do?
Don’t miss your opportunity. Be intentional. Encourage others to do the same and watch what happens.
You got this!
Coach Tavia
#laugh, #gratitude, #reach, #stretch, #bepositive, #honoryourself, #youmatter, #faceyourfears, #learnandgrow, #selfawareness, #selfimprovement, #selfcompassion, #faith, #believe, #ittakescourage, #focus, #shift, #trustyourself, #dothework, #shareyourgifts, #releaseyourpower, #knowyourworth, #leadbyexample, #justdoit, #lifecoach, #leadershipcoach, #leadershipdevelopment, #letsgo
References:
How Adversity Makes You Stronger
How to laugh in the face of adversity, according to a neurologist
Vanzant, Iyanla; Acts of Faith: Daily Meditations for People of Color. Atria, New York, NY 2020.
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