The Way out of Adversity is Through It

12 Aug The Way out of Adversity is Through It

“These are the times that try men’s souls.” ― Thomas Paine, The American Crisis

Nobody welcomes adversity, in personal life or business. We all want rain, but we don’t want a situation resulting in loss of life or property. We all want to create the next Amazon or Tesla; the gruelling journey to get there has fewer takers.

At a time when all our businesses are challenged by adversity, it’s natural to seek ways out of it. But a surprising truth is: the way out, is actually the way through it. A statement that seems to make no sense at first. But reality has proven it, time and again. 

 Many are the stories of those who have suffered harshly, end up not only surviving adversity, but thoroughly enjoying their lives. How did they manage to achieve harmony, grow in complexity and create order out of chaos?

Ever heard the story of a standup comic who’s also a house help? Deepika Mhatre’s extraordinary conquest over adversity touched my heart.

Deepika’s journey moved from selling imitation jewellery to passengers on Mumbai’s local trains, to working as a domestic help, managing five jobs a day. After all, looking after an ailing husband and three daughters is no mean feat. But 43-year old Deepika chose to combat her grinding, humdrum life with humour. A talent show one of her employers hosted for the house helps a year back, changed it all!

Her hobby and something that she did for a lark, ended as a smashing success. This triggered her belief that perhaps she could do this full time. Eventually, Deepika began doing comic sketches professionally based on her own experiences as a house help, using both the good and the bad as material. Today, she keeps people smiling and laughing… mostly at themselves. Her guiding message: “Your domestic help is human too. You must treat them with dignity.” Deepika Mhatre still retains her day job as a house help.

 Unknown to our conscious mind, affliction or adversity produces something far more intense and valuable than immediate relief. Our struggle and pain spurs us to search for meaning, hope and opportunity beyond our present circumstances:

1. Adversity surfaces the struggles and fears that have been obstacles to our growth and compels us to deal with them at a root level.
2. Adversity forces us to overcome the comfort zones and inertia that have previously been holding us back.
3. Adversity sharpens the ears of our hearts, to listen to the still small voice within. A reminder of our true purpose and calling.
4. Finally, adversity drives us to seek and explore opportunities, we wouldn’t otherwise have earnestly sought.

Like Deepika and many others, what seems like a devastating set of circumstances could enrich our lives in countless ways. Adversity can transform despair into hope, stress into a fuel that powers a meaningful & joyous journey and breakdowns into breakthroughs of unbelievable proportions.

To sum up, a quote from author Sherrilyn Kenyon rings ever so true: 

“Sometimes things have to go wrong in order to go right.”