Encountering adversity in our life cannot be avoided; it is nearly inevitable. To overcome adversity is to accept our fate and to choose what path we will take in life. Overcoming obstacles comes from the things we once thought we could not do.
As Havelock Ellis wrote, “Pain and death are part of life. To reject them is to reject life itself.” People like Wilma Rudolph and Walt Disney all encountered and overcame the obstacles that made them the people they are today. Adversity is challenging to overcome however having a positive mindset and taking a fresh start can help overcome adversity.
It seems almost impossible to become the fastest woman in the world, as it requires lots of persistence and determination, but that didn’t stop Wilma Rudolph. According to “Goodnight stories for rebel girls” written by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo, “Wilma Rudolph became the fastest woman in the world, bringing great joy to her family and her country” At a young age, Wilma contracted polio, resulting in her left leg becoming paralyzed. The doctors said that she could never move again due to her disability.
Wilma stated, “My doctors told me I would never walk again. My mother told me I would. I believed my mother”. Her statement illustrates the idea that Wilma chose to stay positive and not lose hope. Adversity can be defeated if we prevent negative thoughts from infiltrating our minds. Converting our focus to the real can provide us with the motivation and urge we need to keep going.
One of the most recognizable fictional characters in the world is Mickey Mouse. He was created in 1928 by the famous Walt Disney. Walt Disney was a well-known American entrepreneur who ran a successful animation company popularly known as The Walt Disney Company. He won 22 academy awards during his lifetime, and he was the founder of two of the most popular theme parks in the world, Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Although it may appear that life was easygoing and entertaining, Walt Disney had to overcome many roadblocks and complications to achieve his dreams.
As stated by biography.com/waltdisney, “Walt Disney faced a lot of financial problems, having filed for bankruptcy just one year after opening Disney.” He went to California for a fresh start, created more animations, and soon introduced Disney to the world. “In 1933, The Three Little Pigs and its title song “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?” became a theme for the country amid the Great Depression.” Disney movies became a big hit around the world, and they still are today. It is odd to think that all of this happened because Disney had filed for bankruptcy. If Disney had not gone bankrupt, it might not be as popular as it is today.
As Walt Disney himself had once said, “All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me… You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”
The way people such as Wilma Rudolph and Walt Disney overcame adversity reveals a lot about their character. Without challenges, life would be pointless and tedious. We may not realize it when facing it, but adversity is significant if we want to achieve our goals. We could take what they did to overcome hardships and apply it to our own lives. So how can we overcome adversity? Staying positive even when things are not going well and starting over are all ways to deal with hardships that come across our lives. Using this advice can help overcome adversity so we can continue to pursue our dreams. Although adversity can be hard to go through, we should know that our troubles do not last forever.