I was 10 years old living in Lithuania.

I remember it like it was yesterday.

I just came back home from playing outside with my friends.

My mom walks up to me and tells me a story of how her father, every Sunday, used to listen to a radio station called the American Voice.

Which was a news station explaining how the Americans were planning to help countries that were under the soviet union at that time.

I looked at her with slight confusion wondering why she was telling me this as I was preparing to eat my meal.

And then she says, “We’re moving to America.”

We were a middle class family, my parents had good jobs, we had a beautiful home, our whole distance family was within 2 hour driving distance.

Next thing I know, we’re in a completely different culture.

Not knowing the language or anyone there.

Waiting at the airport for 6 hours for some random guy who was a friend, of a friend, of a friend, of my parents to come pick us up.

My parents having to start completely over from scratch and on top of that with two kids.

Talk about embracing adversity.

To this day, I remind my parents how I am still in awe of them making such a ballsy move.

At first, you may think of adversity as unpleasant. That is where many get stuck.

You have to look beyond that.

Every adversity brings with it an equal if not greater advantage.

Try to remember the last time you were faced with a challenge, adversity, unpleasant situation.

If you analyze it, you’ll clearly see why it happened in the first place. If you take a step further, in that process there is something that you gained in return.

Something valuable, meaningful, insightful.

Very few people know the difference between temporary defeat and failure.

Just because you tried something and failed, doesn’t mean you will fail again if you tried a second or a third time.

The benefits of adversity are very much real.

There was a study done: “Whatever does not kill us: cumulative lifetime adversity, vulnerability, and resilience” and what they found was, in the difficult moments we do suffer from mental, physical, and spiritual pain - but in that suffering people developed a greater understanding of hardships and were better prepared the next time they faced adversity.

At that time, when we made the move to United States, I didn’t comprehend how much my parents had to endure mentally, physically, spiritually.

Most importantly, when there were moments of temporary defeat, and I clearly remember even at the age of 10 some of the most difficult times for us, they never stopped from pursuing what they set out to achieve by making that move to United States.

Providing a better life and a future for my brother and I.

They ended up doing much more than that.

Without even realizing it they were teaching me some of the most important lessons when it comes to dealing with adversity.

3 Positive Principles of Adversity

I actually never asked my parents if they feel like they achieved success by making the move (I will ask them).

In my eyes, they did well beyond that.

I don’t just define success by material things.

I value universal laws and principles much more.

I’ve learned that adversity will teach you exactly that.

This is what I learned not just from observing my parents and many other successful people, but also, dealing with adversity myself:

Emotional Strength

The reason adversity is unpleasant and people initially look to avoid it is because it makes you navigate through the unknown.

Fear arises from the unknown.

When the fear of unknown becomes known, we become emotionally superior.

The doubt, fear, or worry that lived within, is now gone and you build leadership characteristics.

You went through hardships, you learned and gained insights, which ultimately makes you a relatable person.

Leadership Characteristics

Everyone is a leader in their own way.

A trustworthy leader is someone who has experienced adversity.

Just think about it, would you allow someone to lead you in a difficult time who has never experienced adversity?

Or would you have a lot more faith in someone else knowing they experienced trials and tribulations you are faced with?

Do not shine away from challenging moments and know that it’s the perfect time for you to discover deeper parts within you that you may not know you had.

Change

Adversity is always a blessing when it forces you to acquire knowledge and depend more on spiritual forces.

Many individuals have no idea how much more capable they are in life.

Do not limit yourself.

Especially, after temporary defeats.

Instead, look for insights and how you can be better next time you’re faced with a challenge.

Your brain starts working differently, your perspective changes, therefore everything becomes a learning experience.

Which in the end, makes you more relatable, trustworthy, and overall a better individual.

I want to leave you with a few quotes from Napoleon Hill’s conversation with the Devil (from his book OUTWITTING THE DEVIL):

“The non-drifter meets with temporary defeat and failure, but his reaction to all forms of adversity is positive. He fights instead of giving up, and usually wins.”

“Life gives no one immunity against adversity, but life gives to everyone the power of positive thought, which is sufficient to master all circumstances of adversity and convert them into benefits.”

Next time you feel like giving up, remember that you are very close to success.

Success usually disguises in failure.