Adversity And Growth

All life forms have evolved as a result of adversity in one form or another.  We should not panic when life’s difficulties arise.  The suffering our ego creates ultimately become the seeds of its own demise.  Adversity actually plays a critical role in our growth and evolution. 

As an example, when we exercise we are making life difficult for our body.  The body is being forced to change in response to the difficulty it is experiencing.  Life needs to become difficult in order for evolution to occur.  Adversity creates the motivation for growth and change.

The Butterfly Story

One day, a small opening appeared in a cocoon.  A man sat and watched the young butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through the little hole.   It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and could go no further so the man decided to help it.  He took a pair of scissors and opened the cocoon.  The butterfly was then able to emerge with little effort but it had a withered body and shriveled wings.  The man expected the wings to open and expand allowing the butterfly to fly away.  But the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a withered body and shriveled wings, never able to fly.

What the man in his kindness did not understand was that the restricting effect of the cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to emerge through the tiny opening were nature’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so it would be ready for flight once it had achieved its freedom.  We need our struggles for growth to occur.  If we were allowed to go through life without any obstacles it would cripple us.  Our struggles and the emotional labor they require are essential for the development of our emotional intelligence.

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