Adversity is not personal.

Even our personal adversity.

Maybe for you, it's a devastating health diagnosis that's turned your world upside down. Or a spouse who's decided, after years of marriage, that they no longer want to be a part of your life.

Perhaps it's a lawsuit that threatens everything you've built, or a financial loss that's left you reeling.

I can tell you - from experience - these moments feel incredibly personal. They cut to the core of who we are and what we value.

But the truth?

Adversity does not discriminate.

When we're facing adversity, instead of asking, "Why me?", we need to ask another question:

"What can I learn from this?"

We will all - at some point - face adversity. It's a fundamental part of the human experience. The only way to avoid it would be to avoid life altogether.

That's not to say we shouldn't feel our pain. We absolutely should. But we should also strive to make our pain worthwhile, by using it as a catalyst for personal and professional growth.

Ask yourself:

• What strengths can I develop as a result of this challenge?
• What insights can I gain about myself, about life?
• How can I use this experience to become a better version of myself?

Adversity, in this light, is not a punishment or a curse.

It's an integral part of our journey, a necessary step in our evolution.

So instead of granting pain the power to cripple us, let's instead put our pain to work for us.

Let's use it as a reminder that we're alive, that we're growing, that we're becoming more than we were before.

Adversity is not personal.

But our response to it is.

And therein lies our power.