How do YOU Handle Adversity?

Let's face it. Life gives us challenges. A "challenge" is a neat synonym for "kick in the behind." Some more than others, SO FAR. It is how we deal with adversity that defines our character. Anyone can act right when everything is going well. And if things aren't going well, it is how you react that will predict whether you move forward, grow, change and heal, or whether you self destruct.You DO have a choice.

How do you respond when the worst happens? What do you do? Do you say, "why me?" or worse, "WHY NOT THEM?" Do you feel sorry for yourself? Try to run from the pain instead of feeling the feelings? Self medicate? Repeat the pattern that got you this pain to begin with because you refuse to examine your choices? Your priorities? Your values? Your relationship with God?

Or do you try to see the blessing, however hidden in your situation? Do you make the best of a bad situation? Do you pray for strength and move forward? Do you feel your grief, sorrow and sadness and let it go? Or do you cling to those like a security blanket, deriving some unhealthy pleasure from it? Instead of using your loss or hurt as a learning experience and accepting it as part of "your path," do you use it as an excuse to treat people poorly? To use drugs, alcohol or throwing yourself into a bad relationship?

When people annoy you, what is your reflex? Do you silently pray for them and for patience? Or do you engage in arguments and fill your life with needless strife? Do you secretly look for situations in which you can vent your spleen?

When people are hurting around you, do you make it about you? Or do you do your best to comfort that person and help THEM respond well to THEIR situation? i.e. Do you share your mistakes or experience overcoming misfortune with others so people can learn from them or so you hide them, making them just useless painful, chapters from your life?
I have done some of the above bad things. I am sure I am not alone. For instance, I am guilty of thinking that a "relationship" can fix what hurt me. I made that mistake over and over. It wasn't until I made some very painful self examination that I was able to break that cycle.
I have been impatient, unkind and could have been more loving. But I see it now and I constantly strive to make progress those areas.

If you cannot learn from your past you WILL repeat it. Being closer to God, buying a Bible and actually reading it (I have a great Devotional Bible in the New Living Translation that was a huge help) and worshiping helped me tremendously. THEN
My life changed forever. My heart was healing. I clearly was reminded of my blessings and they seemed to either multiply or they were just made more visible. There was a void that was filled in my life and I was able to be happy in the moment. No longer tortured by the past or fearing the future.

It would be easy to feel bad about not coming to this sooner. But it was not up to me. Once I figured that out I used the energy I would have spent kicking my behind to improving my life here on Earth.

My blessings are numerous and my faith is strong. God has led me on a completely different path than anyone who knew me before could have imagined. My heart is full and I am grateful every day for my life exactly as it stands. I pray that I continue to have strength to face what is to come. Faith did not come easy for me and I have to work at it every day. A grateful heart helps.

I ask, what have you learned? Are you avoiding a truth? Clinging to bad patterns? Turning away from God?

How is that working out for you?