People face setbacks and hardships throughout life, but not everyone responds to adversity the same way. Some emerge stronger, while others remain trapped in their struggles. What determines whether a person rises from adversity or succumbs to it? Here, we explore three key factors that influence true resilience.
1. The Way You Respond Determines Whether You Rise or Fall
When faced with failure, your mindset and actions shape your future outcomes. Psychologist Carol Dweck introduced the concept of the “growth mindset” and the “fixed mindset”, which explain how individuals perceive challenges and setbacks.
Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset
| Mindset Type | Response to Failure | Common Beliefs | Possible Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Mindset | Views failure as proof of personal inadequacy and avoids challenges | “I’m just not good enough.” / “I was never meant to do this.” | Loses motivation, develops self-doubt, eventually gives up. |
| Growth Mindset | Sees failure as an opportunity to improve and adapt | “This didn’t work, so I’ll try another way.” | Learns from mistakes, refines strategies, eventually succeeds. |
✅ Success Case: Michael Jordan
- In high school, Jordan was cut from his basketball team, but instead of giving up, he trained harder and ultimately became one of the greatest NBA players of all time.
- He famously said: “I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
✅ Failure Case: Those Who Give Up Too Soon
- Many people, after experiencing business failure, heartbreak, or career setbacks, internalize the idea that they are “failures” rather than viewing their experience as a learning opportunity.
➡ Those who truly rise from adversity are the ones who adjust their thinking—seeing failure as a stepping stone, not a dead end.
2. Adversity Alone Doesn’t Make You Stronger—Your Response to It Does
There’s a common saying: “Failure makes you stronger.” But this isn’t entirely true. Failure alone does nothing—it is the way you analyze, learn, and adapt that determines whether you grow from it.
Imagine two individuals facing the same setback:
- Person A fails but doesn’t reflect on why. They lose confidence and stop trying.
- Person B fails but takes time to analyze what went wrong, adjusts their approach, and tries again.
Only Person B has the potential to rise from adversity, while Person A remains stuck in failure. This phenomenon is known as learned helplessness, where repeated failures without corrective action lead to passivity and hopelessness.
✅ How to Avoid the Negative Effects of Failure
- Accept Reality – Don’t deny or ignore failure; face it head-on.
- Analyze What Went Wrong – Was it the strategy? Lack of resources? Unrealistic expectations?
- Find a New Approach – Learn from others, seek advice, and explore alternative methods.
- Take Action – Growth only happens when you apply what you’ve learned.
✅ Real-Life Example: Thomas Edison
- He failed thousands of times while inventing the light bulb, but he saw those failures differently: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
- Each failure led him closer to success because he adapted and persisted.
➡ Failure itself does not guarantee growth. Only a combination of the right mindset and continuous action leads to transformation.
3. Finding Meaning in Hardship Is the Key to Rebirth
Many people rise from adversity because they assign meaning to their suffering. When people can extract value from their struggles, they gain the motivation to move forward.
✅ Psychological Insight: Logotherapy
- Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and psychologist, discovered in Nazi concentration camps that: “Those who have a ‘why’ to live can bear almost any ‘how.’”
- His logotherapy theory states that people endure hardship best when they find a meaningful purpose behind their suffering.
✅ Real-Life Example: Nick Vujicic
- Born without arms and legs, Nick Vujicic once felt hopeless and even considered suicide. However, he later realized that his experience could inspire and uplift others.
- Today, he is a world-renowned motivational speaker, saying: “If you can’t find purpose in your suffering, help others—and you will discover it.”
✅ How to Find Meaning in Adversity
- Reframe Pain as Growth – Instead of seeing suffering as meaningless, view it as a teacher.
- Ask: What Can I Learn from This? – Often, our biggest hardships reveal our deepest strengths.
- Pursue a Bigger Goal – Many who overcome adversity channel their pain into helping others, turning personal struggles into a mission.
➡ Adversity doesn’t automatically transform you, but if you find purpose in it, you can truly be reborn.
Conclusion: How to Truly Rise from Adversity
| Key Factor | Action Steps |
|---|---|
| Shift Your Mindset | Develop a growth mindset; see failure as a chance to improve. |
| Take Meaningful Action | Reflect, adjust, and persist instead of remaining stuck. |
| Find Meaning in Hardship | Reframe pain as an opportunity to grow and contribute. |
Ultimately, those who rise from adversity aren’t special because they avoid hardships—they rise because they find reasons to keep going and take the right actions.