How Rich Are You? Mentally.
Why is it that some people, despite insurmountable odds, move forward and triumph in their work and personal life while some others are left behind to struggle?
The key to the answer lies in the term, “Adversity Quotient” (AQ), turning obstacles into opportunities. AQ can and will show that you actually have more control over events than you think you have. Most often than not, this can usually be achieved. It is about changing your own mindsets and beliefs. By possessing a high level of AQ, it helps one to effectively counter feelings of frustration, anger and helplessness.
Adversity Quotient is a conceptual framework that combines scientific theory and real-world application, predicting who are those who will overcome adversity and who will be crushed. Who gives up and who prevails. There is without question that all of us would face adversity in our lives. The difference lies in our attitudes and actions towards them. The higher our AQ, the better we are at handling them.
Very often, people are always blaming the situations that they are in. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are those who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them.
Whenever you feel that you’re unlucky or less well off to your peers, stop asking yourself, “Why am I so kena sway (extremely unfortunate in dialect)? When will I be luckier? Why do they get that but I get this?” (All the many “why’s” that serve no purpose but simply waste your time and spoil your mood.) All these are very negative thoughts that cause you to give up control over the whole situation. You already started off on a disadvantaged ground, yet you have chosen to make yourself even worse off.
Instead, you should be asking yourself, “What is it that determines the situation that I’m in now? Now, what can I do to get from A (current state) to B (desired state).” Never compromise on what you’re given just because you think it is a matter of luck. Put yourself in situations that never were, yet, and ask, “Why not I….?”
A piece of good news is that as given by Richard H. Price, an organizational psychologist at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research and psychology department, he believes that AQ is largely a learned trait, based on people’s life experiences, and not inborn. We are all capable of developing high AQ, if we want to.
Therefore, be resilient in the face of adversity! Start taking advantage of opportunities that might otherwise be missed. Character is forged in the flames of adversity. Done right, suffering can fuel greatness.
To sum it all up, an important component of being able to triumph in the face of adversity, is to take a pro-active approach in your life, personal relationships and work. Other common attributes include persistence, adaptability, optimism and self-confidence. Adopt the “survivor personality” in your life today, and you would be amazed by how much more life has to offer to you. Remember, what doesn’t kill you, can only make you stronger.
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