Adversity
When faced with adversity, do you lie down or do you fight?
I thought about this line for some time in the back of my mind. Then I read an excerpt from a book about wolves and I thought that they were really the object lesson for this question. They have a life of adversity, and they make it through because they have mastered how to focus their energy. They don’t run around aimlessly, but instead have a strategic plan and they execute it through constant communication with others of the pack. They are masters of planning for the moment of opportunity and when it happens, they are ready to act. They each understands their role and understands exactly what the pack expects of them.
The wolf does not depend on luck. Everyone does not strive to be the leader in the wolf pack. Some are consummate hunters or caregivers or jokesters, but each seems to gravitate to the role he does best. The wolf’s attitude is always based upon the question, “What is best for the pack?”. The cohesion, teamwork and training of the pack determines whether the pack lives or dies.
Because of training, preparation, planning, communication and a preference for action, the wolf’s expectation is always to be victorious. While in actuality this is true only 10 percent of the time or less, the wolf’s attitude is always that success will come—and it does. (excerpts from Simple Truths)
When adversity strikes, it’s not what happens that determines our destiny; it’s how we react. The thing to do is to create a wolf pack around you now, before adversity strikes. This applies both to our employment situation and our personal lives. Do you have friends, family or work associates who form together a cohesive union, each fulfilling a role, and each looking out for each other? Do you know all of the dreams and aspirations and goals of each member of the pack, so that you can help them achieve their dreams as they help you to achieve yours?
The answers to these questions will determine not only how successful you can be, but also how much you are really there to help others be the same. It helps you to formulate that winning expectation of success for both yourself and the members of your pack. It helps you to finish strong because you were prepared for adversity and made the most of each day to make it a success.
Winning at all cost is not the right answer. Even if you succeeded, at all costs indicates that you are alone. But winning in tandem with your pack, having fun along the way with the jokesters, taking care of those who need extra care from life’s adversities, whatever our role – this winning brings everyone along and that makes all of the difference.
