If you’re going to survive in this rough and tumble world, you’re going to need to become like a Timex watch. Like the ad says, “You need to take a licking and keep on ticking…”

One of the key determinants of success in life is whether you possess the mental toughness to overcome adversity. Life is not fair; events will not always go your way. If you are the sort or person to feel sorry for yourself, or give in and quit at the first sign of trouble, you are going to struggle. Whether you currently can overcome adversity easily, or not, here’s the good news. With a little bit of coaching and some focused effort on your part, you can train yourself to become stronger, and more resilient.

Don’t waste time feeling sorry for yourself. Nobody wants to hear you sing “Cry Me A River” unless of course you’ve got a great set of pipes on you and can belt it out like Linda Ronstadt or Diana Krall. Realize this. We all choose our destiny in this life by makings a series of slight course corrections along our path. Choose wisely and act positively and things go better. Avoid feeling like a sap and getting deterred by obstacles and things go better.

Another Question:  Do you sometimes wonder if circumstances are beyond your control?

Of course, at times circumstances ARE beyond your control! That is a part of life. Some would say it’s a fact of life. However you look at that, you need to recognize that you will occasionally be tempted to consider yourself unlikely. Don’t go there. You might also be very willing to let an obstacle stop you dead in your tracks. Do not go there either. Recognize that the obstacle is the solution to your problems, and in overcoming it, you gain the psychological armor to move forward. Some things in life will be beyond your control. Go ahead and forget about them quickly. Some events in your career will be within your control. Focus on those and make the most of the opportunity to turn the obstacles into a paved path to your destiny. You have power and influence over a great many things if you choose to. Don’t abdicate your power and your influence. Hold onto them with a tight grip and focus on controlling the things you can control. Let the rest go.

Recognize what you could not possibly control and forget about it. Recognize what you DO have control over, and fix it.

Remember that you can build up your mental toughness and resiliency, but that it’s going to take some tenacity and commitment on your part. Get started and enjoy the journey!