There probably is not a single person in our community, or in the world for that matter, that has not been impacted by the world-wide Coronavirus pandemic. Schools have been shut down, kids will miss prom, and graduation as we know it is unlikely. Vacation plans have been postponed or canceled and entire seasons for many sports will be missed. Countless jobs and businesses have been lost by the almost complete shut-down of the economy. Not to mention the thousands of sick and many lives that have been lost. Needless to say, this is a difficult time for everyone.

The simple truth is that difficult times come and go, and adversity is inevitable. The key is finding ways to stay strong and move past tough times. According to Deep Patel of Entrepreneur Magazine, some of us are able to flourish during adverse situations and have found ways to adapt to their current circumstances, while others simply fold. The difference is that people that are successful during difficult times do not allow themselves to be overwhelmed. They process their situation then move forward instead of dwelling on how bad things are.

While everyone deals with adversity differently, there are some commonalities in how people best cope with tough times.
Have a sense of Humor.

Research has shown that laughing releases stress and produces calming endorphins. While it is sometimes difficult to find the “funny” during hard times, take advantage of all of the little silly things life has to offer. Watch a comedy, tell a joke, reminisce with a friend. There is always something funny going on. The fiction of network news channels is proof of this.
Prepare mentally for adversity.

They say the only things that are certain in life are death and taxes, but adversity needs to be added to the list. How many great stories began with, “…and they lived happily ever after.” None! Life is never lived in a straight line. There are ups and downs, good and bad. When things are great, we cannot forget that tough times will eventually come. This isn’t to say that we should enjoy good things. It simply means to prepare yourself so that when “it” hits the fan, you are ready to deal with it. Being prepared takes away the anxiety of surprise.
Find the silver linings.

There are always good things to be found in any situation. True, sometimes it is more difficult to find them than others. During this time of social distancing, for example, many people are homebound with their children. Some might see this as a test of wills while others might view this as a chance to reconnect. Those still fortunate to be working may be trying to adapt to working from a home office, or dining room table in my case. While this poses challenges, it also means that I no longer have to commute to my office, pack or buy lunch, or spend money on gas. It also means that I can use the time I have saved driving to and from work for something else such as exercising or talking with my kids. There is always an upside if you look hard enough.
Grow stronger.

Strength comes in many forms; physical, mental, spiritual, etc… During tough times we find out what we are made of. In fact, sometimes we find out that we were capable of so much more than we imagined. When I work with my fitness clients, I often say that we stress the system, rest, then grow stronger. These words are also true of dealing with adversity. Tough times can knock us down and we might need to take a step back to collect ourselves. At that point, the decision is ours to either grow stronger or be crushed by our situation.
Find a purpose.

Sometimes the greatest thing we find when life throws a major curveball is a purpose. Adversity can bring us back to our faith. It can remind us that our family and friends are our more valuable assets. It can help us to establish goals and give us the passion to pursue them. Life has to have meaning if it is worth being lived. Difficult times help us to appreciate the good times while at the same time reminding what it is what we are actually living for.