12 Rules for Dealing with Adversity
Shawna Pandya, MD
![Shawna Pandya, MD]()
Shawna Pandya, MD
Astronaut, Aquanaut, Emergency/Aeromedical Transport Physician, Scientist, Explorer, Executive Director, IIAS Flight Opportunities Program, Director - IIAS Space Medicine Group.
Life can be tough sometimes...but adversity can make you better, if you choose to rise to the occasion. Here are my 12 rules for dealing with adversity.
- Every obstacle is surmountable.
- Sometimes you may be trying to surmount the wrong obstacle (even if it started out being the right one).
- Re-examine your perspective every now and then; every situation can be reframed.
- Advocate for yourself - you know you best.
- Trust your inner circle to pick you up when you fall - but also to call you on your BS when you aren’t rising to the occasion.
- You can be hard on yourself in a way that is destructive, or you can be hard on yourself in a way that is productive.
- If you decide to show up - show up. Own every mistake, misstep, decision and outcome from hereon in.
- You are allowed to stumble, fall, fail, feel frustrated and/or cry. But always, always, always pick yourself back up and get back in the game.
- Prepare for the best (and worst-) case scenarios.
- The outcome won’t always be what you want it to be, despite your best efforts. This can be soul-crushing, heart-breaking, devastating. It will happen. It will hurt. But the Earth still turns turns, tomorrow will still come, and you will still be here...so have a back-up plan.
- Things can get overwhelming. When they do - stop. Take a deep breath. Regroup. Reassess your trajectory and your plan. Then get back in the game.
- Lastly...You’ve got this.
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Engineer | Story Teller | Sustainable Thinker
6 å¹´I remember this view!? During my rotation at the Mars Desert Research Station every crew member had to overcome their own fears and insecurities on the mission. Point 5 was incredibly valuable to us. It allowed us to be vulnerable and made us stronger in the end.?