The Adversity

Innumerable quotes, posts, and schools of thought about adversity and how to deal with that aspect of life are found online. The value of being put through the wringer for the betterment of the self and overall productivity as a human being. A lot of these are valid and do hold some inspirational truth. My current favourite is the practice of “Kintsugi”. They are restoring cracked or shattered ceramics with lacquer and gold, pasting them back together to make them aesthetically better than before they broke. Thus, practically exhibiting the beauty of restoration after destruction. They make both excellent gifts and a means for good anecdotal advice.

Adversity is not scarce, and it is only fitting that the steps to overcome it are equally in ample supply. However, is it motivating us to overcome adversity in the right way?

Adversity is relative. An obstacle I see as adversarial might be like swatting a fly away for you. However, that obstacle still matters to me. So how do I, as an individual, overcome it, and how can you, as a fellow human being, help me?

To answer the first question, I’d like you to think about the 1984 release, a generational-defying classic blockbuster film that has spawned so many cliches; “The Karate Kid”. Quite simply, a karate master agrees to train a bullied teenager in the art of martial arts. The most popular cliche to come out of that movie is that of a young Daniel being taught by wise old Mr Miyagi the basics of karate by painting the fence of his house and famously waxing the old man's cars “on and off” to points of exhaustion. These tasks were taxing on Daniel and seemed pointless. However, it was in these mundane tasks that he honed the basics of karate and was able to continue his training. I will stop there so as not to spoil the movie for those who have not seen it. It's one of those you need to watch, like the lion king J

It was in those seemingly fruitless tasks that Daniel was taught the fundamentals. On the surface, they felt unnecessary and insignificant. Painting a fence and waxing a car might not be close to your challenges. The goal, however, is to find the learnings in every obstacle you face. No matter how big or small the challenge, there is always a lesson that is vital to your development as a person. Embrace and learn from adversity; they are not your enemies but your Mr Miyagi.

In terms of how you can help me overcome my adversity, patience and empathy. I am going through the human process the same as you. I work, I play, and I have those who love me to whom I, in turn, love. I sacrifice and forgo every day to overcome the adversities this world posts in opposition to my goals and aspirations. All these things you, too, face the same as I do. So let us, you and I reading this now, make a promise to each other as people going through the human process together to be empathetic to each other; where I can give, I will pass, and where you can take from me for your benefit I will provide so that we can both achieve our goals. Let us show patience with each other's developmental journeys, taking time to explain our differing views and coming to an agreed-upon consensus that binds and does not divide.

I make this promise to you, and I intend to keep it. I know you will too.

Yours in entrepreneurship

Muziwethu Mtshali

CEO Entreprenerdy - South Africa?