We are all faced with adversity in some point in our lives. In fact, we will be faced with several of them. How you react in the face of adversity will often determine how long your adversity lasts.
I came upon a great story that has a great message about a mule with a lot of tenacity. This tenacity helped him out of situation where other mules would have probably given up.
Adversity – Mule in a Well Story
A farmer owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer discovered the mule ‘braying’ — or whatever mules do once they fall into wells. After cautiously assessing the state of affairs, the farmer felt sorry for the mule, but resolved that neither the mule nor the well was worth saving. Rather, he called his neighbors together and told them what had occurred and asked them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.
At the start, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors proceeded shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It all of a sudden dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back: he had better shake it off and step up! This is what the old mule did, blow after blow. “Shake it off and step up… shake it off and step up… shake it off and step up!” he repeated to encourage himself.
Regardless how painful the blows, or distressing the state of affairs appeared, the old mule fought “panic” and simply kept right on shaking it off and stepping up! You guessed it! It wasn’t long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well! What appeared like it would bury him, actually end up blessing him. All because of the manner in which he handled his hardship.
When things go wrong, how do you handle the situation? Resolve yourself that next time you are faced with adversity, “Shake it off and step up”.
Do you need more inspiration? Here are some great quotes to help you:
[bctt tweet=”Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. -Francis of Assisi”]
[bctt tweet=”Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go. -William Feather “]
[bctt tweet=”I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination. -Jimmy Dean”]
[bctt tweet=”Everyone here has the sense that right now is one of those moments when we are influencing the future. -Steve Jobs”]
[bctt tweet=”Jumping at several small opportunities may get us there more quickly than waiting for one big one to come along. -Hugh Allen”]
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What message do you take from this story?
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