4 Questions to Ask Yourself During Adversity

What do you do when adversity strikes?

This decision can either make you or break you. But what I have found is that most people have no idea how to walk through adversity, so they try to run from it every time it shows up.

But, we all know that running from something does not kill its existence. In fact, the more we run from adversity, the more it shows up in our lives.

Here’s something very important to understand: adversity is needed.

Do this quick exercise with me: Think in your mind for a moment about all the lessons you learned in life. Now ask yourself: did I learn these during good times or bad times?

Usually we are doing more celebrating during good times than thinking about the lessons we have learned. That’s because bad times are needed for our growth. Most people stunt their growth when they do not respond to adversity properly.

So today, I’m going to give you a tool that has helped me through some of the HARDEST times of my life. Upon using it for the first time, it really helped me think about my adversity and overall decisions in ways I never thought possible - resulting in incredible growth is many areas of my life.

That tool is called the “Adversity Protocol.”

Now I can’t take credit for this. I learned this from the incomparable Robin Sharma, one of the best personal development influencers of his time. So when adversity strikes in any area of your life, here’s what you do.

Ask the following four questions:

1. How could this be worse?

   Another good question you can ask here is: has anybody died here? This brings a positive perspective to the situation. Sometimes you realize what you’re dealing with is not as bad as you initially perceived. This also helps bring a calmer energy into solving the problem or moving through the adversity.

2. WTOH: What’s the opportunity here?

   There is opportunity in EVERY moment of adversity or inconvenience. You just have to train yourself to look for it instead of complaining about what’s going on. Complaining is a tactic of the enemy to keep you distracted.

3. How can I make this fun?

   Maybe if the problem solving involves the team at the office, pizza could be ordered, and everyone could sit down and enjoy it while debriefing the issue. Or if you’re studying for a really hard exam, reward yourself with a piece of your favorite candy or chips every time you complete 20 minutes of studying. Depending on the situation and what you are able to do in your capacity, make problem solving fun.

4. How am I blessed?

   This shifts you into gratitude. According to Robin Sharma, gratitude is the antidote to fear. You could take this time to discuss with your team or write down for yourself the things you are grateful for. This also propels you into positive action once a resolution has been identified.

That’s it for this week’s newsletter! If you have been enjoying these, please share with a friend who can also benefit from these.

If you’d like to watch Robin Sharma’s video explanation of his Adversity Protocol, you can do so here: https://youtu.be/HW0mrAsSUYk?si=QVJJigJHFwYgBTWA

If you’d like to follow Robin Sharma, you can check him out on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/@sharmaleadership?si=_ai0a0J6h-UB1lvg

Whenever you are ready, here are two ways I can help you:

Authentic Purpose Challenge

On our journey of living out God’s authentic purpose for our lives, we may see adversity show up often. That’s normal. But perhaps one of the biggest obstacles to overcome is figuring out what our purpose is in the first place.

If that’s you, I can help.

Introducing the Authentic Purpose Challenge – a FREE 3-day experience designed to help you uncover your God-given gifts and develop a plan to live your purpose.

During this challenge, you'll:

• Gain clarity on your unique calling and how it aligns with empowering the next generation.

• Discover practical steps to get started living out your purpose with confidence.

• Connect with a supportive community of women on a similar journey.

By the end of the challenge, you'll feel empowered and equipped to make a lasting impact on future generations.

Ready to join? Simply reply to this email with the word "PURPOSE" and get ready to unlock your full potential!

Women’s Daily Devotional on Skool

Come join my brand new daily devotional community on Skool! If you’re looking for a way to stay consistent in your daily time with God, this is it. For a period of my life, I would read daily devotionals that were sent to me by email, and my spiritual life grew tremendously. It’s free for a limited time, so join now if you’re ready to take your time with God to the next level. You can sign up by visiting this link: http://www.skool.com/jacqueline-corley-6345

New Authentic Purpose Academy Members

I am thrilled to welcome the following women who joined my 3-month Authentic Purpose Academy this past week!

Diana Dancea

Diana took the 3-day challenge before joining the academy. Here’s what she had to say:

Saniyah Baker-Boatwright

Saniyah is a 2-time author and business owner who has created an incredible writing career for herself. She decided to go ahead and join the academy to deepen the purpose God has already identified for her.

I look forward to working with both of these ladies.

See you next Sunday!

All my best,

Jacqueline