Coping with Adversity What foundational skills do I need for leadership? Stage One of Development ME MS 24

LifeKnowledge® Adversity is the experience of hardship, misfortune, disadvantage, or difficulty; struggles that act as roadblocks by getting in the way of tasks and the completion of one’s goals Objective 1 MS 24 TM A1

LifeKnowledge® Adversity Two Opposing Views for Facing Adversity 1.Hope The belief that you have control to produce a favorable outcome of your adverse situation 2.Helpless The belief that you have no control over your adverse situation Objective 1 MS 24 TM A2

LifeKnowledge® Famous People Who Have Faced Adversity Helen Keller: became deaf and blind as a result of a childhood illness, but remained focused on helping others with disabilities Michael J. Fox: Was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but keeps a positive outlook on life; works tirelessly to raise public awareness of the disease and funds to fight it Objective 2 MS 24TM B1

LifeKnowledge® Famous People Who Have Faced Adversity Christopher Reeves: was paralyzed from the neck–down from a horseback riding accident, but still has hope that he will one day walk again Steven Hawking: is paralyzed from the neck–down and practically unable to speak, yet is an amazing science genius Jackie Robinson: overcame color barriers in baseball to become the first black baseball player in the major leagues Objective 2 MS 24 TM B2

LifeKnowledge® Common Adversities Social: affects the culture and society as a whole. Includes crime, racism, terrorism, economic recession, faith or religious scandals, divorce rates, status of the educational systems Objective 2 MS 24 TM C1

LifeKnowledge® Common Adversities Occupational: affects the work environment. Includes job security, status of pension or retirement plans, work hours, injustice, and violence Objective 2 MS 24 TM C2

LifeKnowledge® Common Adversities Physical: affects the physical abilities of the individual. Includes physical disabilities, disease, and disfigurement Objective 2 MS 24 TM C3

LifeKnowledge® Common Adversities Personal: adversity that may fit into one of the above categories, but affects the individual personally; i.e., the individual is a direct victim of the adversity Objective 2 MS 24 TM C4

LifeKnowledge® How Severe is Your Adversity? Does it affect just one aspect of your life? Does it hinder your everyday life? Objective 3 MS 24 TM D

LifeKnowledge® Dealing With Adversity Five Useful Behaviors for Dealing With Adversity 1. Be aggressive. 1. Be aggressive. Continue to be outgoing and optimistically take risks to cope with your problem, rather than being overwhelmed by it. MS 24 TM E1

LifeKnowledge® Dealing With Adversity MS 24 TM E2 2. Be constructive 2. Be constructive. Work constructively rather than destructively to maintain focus when facing adversity. 3. Be creative 3. Be creative. Seek alternative solutions to your struggles, rather than follow the ordinary.

LifeKnowledge® Dealing With Adversity MS 24 TM E3 4. Be motivated. 4. Be motivated. Maintain energy and vigor in your pursuit to conquer your adversity. 5. Be persistent. 5. Be persistent. Don’t give up without a fight and simply accept what comes your way.