Life sometimes has a way of humbling you by shaking your very foundation as it brings about change in life. If you haven’t hit rock bottom a few times, you will never know how truly glorious it is to dwell on the mountain tops.
It’s those valleys and low places that teach you the most valuable lessons that can sustain you throughout life.
Think of it this way, where would the flowers be without the rain? Sure, plants need the sunshine to help them grow and flourish, but they also need the water from the rain to nourish their innermost parts. All the things that happen to you are for a reason.
The Heartwarming Story of a Special Man Who Overcame Adversity
According to National Health Institute, tetra-amelia syndrome is an unusual genetic disorder caused by a mutation of the WNT3 gene. Children born with this condition usually don’t live long as the lungs are often underdeveloped. It’s categorized by the absence of all four limbs as well as other severe deformities.
Nick’s birth was quite shocking for his parents, and they weren’t sure how to care for a child with no limbs. In fact, they were so shocked by his appearance that his mom refused to hold or comfort him for the first four months of his life. As you can imagine, his life was difficult, and he often questioned why he was born.
Gripped by misery and despair, Nick tried to take his life at the age of ten. When he didn’t die, he was faced with the reality that living would be more complicated than he could imagine. However, he wanted his life to have a purpose and to give back to others.
Through his mother’s help, he learned of another person who didn’t let a disability define them. He knew that he wanted to overcome and show others that if he could make it, then they could too. At 19 years of age, he gave his first public speech to motivate others through their adversity.
Nick Now Teaches and Inspires Others
By using the power of positive thinking, Nick completely changed his life. The man with no limbs now travels the world and speaks to the masses. He also enjoys things like acting, music, and writing books.
In his free time, he loves to swim, paint, and even go fishing. He doesn’t have much free time because he is the father of four exceptional children with his wife of many years. His life is a testament that the things that come to destroy you can change your life for the better.
Ten Behaviors That Change Your Life
What adversities have you faced in your life that have altered your thinking? While you likely don’t suffer from anything as horrifying as Nick Vujicic does, the troubles in your life are just as serious. Here are ten ways to use the things that have happened to you to change your life for the better.
1. Make Goals with A Good Return on Investment
How many times have you made goals only to break them a short time later? Try setting some goals that will bring you a good return, such as practicing mindful thinking, learning meditation, or being thankful for all your blessings. When you alter your mindset for positive things, it will help make you a better person.
2. Learn the Lesson in Each Adversity
Each trial that comes your way has come to teach you a lesson. It would help if you determined what the lesson is to apply it to your life. Perhaps, you went through a battle with cancer, but you made it through okay.
The goal might have been to show you the importance of living life to the fullest, exercise, and eating foods that fuel your body. You can take this struggle and use it to help others going through the same battle. Rather than hiding from life’s storms, learn to embrace them and find their purpose.
3. Develop Daily Success Habits
Do you have power habits in your life that help you stick to a routine? How many times have you woke up on January 1st with a New Year’s resolution, and you’re ready to become a new you? The only thing is that you soon drop those habits because they weren’t ingrained in your brain.
When you develop daily success habits, like using positive affirmations, these habits don’t fall by the way. They become so much a part of you that you do them like you brush your teeth when you get out of bed. However, these habits have a significant impact on your life.
4. Strike A Balance with Self-Doubt
Do you have a dream that you’ve put on the back burner because you have doubts? What if you wanted to be a painter, but your hands shake so severely from Parkinson’s Disease that you can’t hold a paintbrush still? How did a man with no limbs learn to paint?
Sure, Nick Vujicic had plenty of doubts about doing most things, but he learned how to compromise. He uses his mouth to hold a paintbrush. When self-doubt comes creeping into your mind, you need to combat it.
It’s how writers with horrible grammar can become famous. They learn to overcome the obstacle in front of them. Your doubts are what fuel you to be a better human being.
5. Stop Stimulating Your Brain with Useless Things
Have you ever noticed how long you sit in front of the television or a computer screen each night? All this time on wasted things could be better spend on something else. Rather, invest your time in learning new things or meeting new people.
There are so many magnificent things that you can learn and do when you break the chains that tie you to one location. Though you can virtually travel and see anything you want online, it won’t give you nearly the satisfaction if you do it in person. Cut your screen time and see how it can enhance your life.
6. Learn a New Skill
New skills help you in personal development. Set a goal to learn to do something in the next year. You could learn a new language, teach yourself how to cook like a pro, or take classes to enhance your skills.
Each new thing you learn helps develop your personality more and branches you out of your comfort zone.
7. Stop Complaining – Be Thankful
If one thing will change your life, it’s gratitude. If you want to learn “the secret” to happiness, you will learn to be thankful for all you have. Stop looking at everyone else and their accomplishments and be grateful to the Universe for your blessings.
8. Learn Consistency
Consistency is the key to many things in life. If you want to lose weight, then you need to have consistent good eating habits. How many yoyo diets have you been on that produce good results for a while, but then you “fall off the wagon?”
Learning to be consistent in all things you do will change your life. What kind of parent would you be if you weren’t consistent with rules, discipline, and running your home? You can’t just “show up” when the mood hits you. If you learn nothing else in life, remember to be steadfast.
9. Don’t Listen to Naysayers
You will never get anywhere in life if you allow others to define your self-worth. There will always be doubting Joe who doesn’t think you’re good enough, pretty enough, or intelligent enough for a job promotion. However, you must prove these negative people wrong. You can and will do anything you set your mind to do.
10. Stop Playing the Victim Card
You have two choices in life, and you can either be a victim of an overcomer. Your choice will affect your future. The victim mentality is someone who uses their struggles as a crutch.
However, the overcomer uses their adversities as a stepping stool. Everyone has things that hit them in life that take them to rock bottom, but it’s how you use these life lessons that will define you.
Final Thoughts on Adopting Behaviors to Change Your Life and Teach You a Lesson
Throughout history, there have been many greats that have used their adversity as a stepping stool. Sure, it hurts, and it can be crippling when life hands you blow. It’s especially true when the storms don’t seem to end.
Consequently, it’s during these times that you are molded and made into a better person. When a potter takes a lump of clay and molds it into a beautiful spot, they must first take out all the imperfections to get the stunning masterpiece. You can think of the Universe as developing you by shaping you through adversity.
Rather than fighting the tough times, find out what lesson you need to learn. You can rise above anything life throws your way, and it will mold and shape you into a better person. You can change your life for the better when you learn to use your times of adversity as lessons rather than playing the victim. Learn to live by the old motto that winners never quit and quitters never win!
Community
