Navigating Adversity

How do you respond to adversity? Recently, I have had a small injury that is keeping me out of training. It is constantly on my mind and has honestly affected my mood quite a bit. As a runner you are constantly training so when you get into this rhythm it is difficult to be out of the normal loop. It has been difficult to deal with this injury that is keeping me from what I love doing. In this post, I’d like to share with you something I recently read that has changed my mindset on this.

Injuries really suck and there is no way around it. It stinks being in pain and it is a struggle to be kept out of something you love to do. That being said a lot of how you feel from an injury stems from how you react to the situation you are in. Injuries pop up and at times there is really not much you could have done to prevent it. Even though you can’t change the exact situation, you can change how you are responding to it.

This past week I have tried to remain positive but deep down I feel beat up. I know that I will eventually feel better but it is hard to come to terms with the fact that I don’t know when the day of pain free running will come. I have tried to take it day by day but find myself each morning waking up in pain. You could call it luck or chance but I feel that God puts certain things into your life when you need them most. I was doing some reading for the day and a section of the book spoke clearly to what I was dealing with.

“It is not what happens to you but the way that you interpret the things that are happening to you that determines how you feel. Your version of events largely determines whether these events motivate or de-motivate you, whether they energize or de-energize you…You must refuse to let the unavoidable difficulties and setbacks of daily life affect your mood or emotions.”

I can’t change the fact that I have an injury but I can change how I respond to this injury. I am not going to continue to let it bring down my day and affect my mood. Life is too short to be upset or mad. Being upset will do nothing to help my injury and I recognize that I have to be positive and move forward.

This same principle can be used in every aspect of life. Don’t let setbacks in your career or personal life weigh you down. Do the small things to feel and be better. Set yourself apart and work to be great. You’ve got this.