(英文讀書會) Personal Response to “Conquering Adversity”：
After reading the article “Conquering Adversity”, the word that immediately came to mind was “cliché.” In contemporary society, the concepts of positive thinking and self-talk have become so frequently discussed that they often feel overused and lacking in depth.Recently, I experienced a personal setback when I was unexpectedly dismissed from my previous job. The decision to let me go left me in shock, though I did my best to remain composed. It took me two full days to come to terms with what had happened. In an effort to find peace, I went to church to pray. Remarkably, after praying in the morning, I received a new job offer that same evening. It then took me another day to fully process this unexpected turn of events.
Throughout this transition, I did not engage in much internal dialogue. I was aware that asking myself, “Why me?” would not be helpful. Instead, I sought guidance from friends on how I could grow from this experience and improve myself moving forward. The article suggests re-framing the question from “Why me?” to “What can I learn from this?”—a common example of cognitive re-framing. These ideas are not unfamiliar to me, and while they may sound simple, implementing them in real life is far more challenging. Nevertheless, I managed to do so.
That being said, I believe it is important to first acknowledge and confront our emotions honestly. Only after we fully process our feelings can we begin to heal and take the necessary steps forward. Expressing frustration or disappointment is a natural part of this process, but it is essential that such expressions are followed by deliberate action. Ultimately, the ability to balance emotional honesty with forward momentum is something we must continue to practice throughout our lives.
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