When times get tough, some people fold and some are made
even stronger.
Did you ever wonder why some people seem to be able to handle
life better than others? Everyone likes to think that they have what it takes
to survive adversity and tough times, but when the chips are down, some folks
definitely do better than others.
The real survivors in life (not the participants in the
recent glut of “reality” survivor TV shows that only seem to bring out the
worst in human behaviour) have developed personalities that allow them more
options. They also have a strong and clear intention to survive, and to do it
in good shape. When problems or setbacks occur, they don’t waste time
complaining and they don’t dwell on the past or what they’ve lost. Instead,
their energies are focused on getting things to turn out well.
Survivors believe
that, no matter what happens to them, they are the ones who are in charge of
their destinies. They don’t get mad at the world for not treating them
better, but they do have an extensive menu of behaviours they can choose from,
depending on the situation. In other words, survivors are option thinkers,
instead of black and white, either/or thinkers.
They also have a wonderful ability to laugh at adversity
because they know that even if they lose everything else, they will still have
themselves. People with survivor personalities can walk confidently into the
unknown because they expect to find a way to make things work out.
So, if you want to be
a true survivor, try focusing your attention less on safety and security and
more on developing positive beliefs and expectations.
