What is life without a little misfortune? Would we ever truly feel happy if we hadn’t had first-hand experience with sadness? We all are dealt different hands in life but one thing is for sure: We all struggle. What would life really be without adversity? 

But how you choose to respond to that difficulty or situation is what makes you who you are. Your reaction to the struggles shapes your life for better or for worse. Believe it or not, there have been countless people in the past who have made history by taking on their difficulties by the horns. Not everyone is born with a silver spoon, some struggle to make it big, and all their hard work does pay off. 

Here are some prominent stories which have left us inspired to work harder and grind no matter what situation we have to deal with. 

1. Running For A Cure

A Canadian athlete lost his leg to cancer at the young age of just 18! Terry Fox did not let his illness define him. Instead, he went on a cross-country run to raise cancer awareness and funds for cancer research. Every day he ran a marathon and covered around 5,300 kilometers. After this, his cancer returned and he had to retire from the journey. 

His legacy continues to live in the name of the Terry Fox Foundation and has managed to raise over $750 million for cancer research.

2. From Rock Bottom To Success

We have all seen movies where the lead hits rock bottom and then works all the way to the top with hard work. This happens in real life too. J.K. Rowling is one of the most famous authors of all time. But people don’t know the struggles that she had to go through to get to where she is today!

She was a single mother who was battling depression and had to survive on only welfare. Regardless, she gave all that she had left in her soul to the book Harry Potter. Her book was so imaginative but it was rejected by a lot of publishers initially. Yet, Rowling did not give up. 

Eventually, she was able to make Harry Potter global phenomena that earned her fame, fortune, and a lot of love. Today her fans adore her and she has a huge family to support her in the shape of her fans. 

3. The Pursuit of Happyness

A struggling father who has no nowhere to go, but he does not give up. Chris Gardner lived on the streets of San Fransisco before he decided to make a career in finance. He had zero experience and connection but he worked hard day and night and landed an internship at a well-known brokerage firm.

That did not make things any easier. He faced a lot of hurdles on his way to success but he was consistent. This is what helped him land a full-time job and he went on to become one of the most successful entrepreneurs of all time. 

4. Rising From The Ashes 

Just like the phoenix, Oprah Winfrey rose from the ashes to untouched heights. She is a philanthropist, an icon, or one can say a media mogul. But if you think she had her way to success already paved when she was born, you are quite wrong. 

She struggled with emotional and physical abuse, trauma, and extreme poverty in her childhood. Despite facing countless obstacles during her early life in Mississippi, she never caved in. She was a shining star throughout her education until she landed a broadcasting job. That is what gave her a sense of the direction she wanted to head in. 

Honing her skills, she launched her own talk show. Her talk show became one of the most high-rated shows in Americal Television History. 

Oprah Winfrey is an inspiration to a whole generation and many to come!

5. Breaking The Social Barriers 

A brilliant mind but a disabled body, Stephen Hawkings refused to let his illness define him. At the ripe age of 21 when he had many dreams and plans lying ahead of him, the doctors diagnosed him with ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). He was told he would only have a few years to live. 

This did not stop him from pursuing his deep interest in science. He defied all odds and made a hugely successful career in science. He went on to become a professor at the University of Cambridge. 

Stephen made countless discoveries in the field of cosmology and is still remembered today through his work. 

6. Breaking The Shackles Of Negativity 

A well-known therapist who struggled with an eating disorder in her youth, Marissa Peer. Today she has helped to save many lives through her books and therapy. She helps people overcome the negative feelings they have about themselves but things were not so easy for her in the start. 

She struggled with negative thoughts about herself when she was suffering from an eating disorder. She took her learnings from the unfortunate journey and decided to pursue a career where she would be able to help other people walking the same unfortunate path as her. 

Today her books Ultimate Confidence and Mind Over Fatter among many others have helped people overcome emotional hurdles and challenges. 

What Lesson Is There To Learn?

You can always redeem yourself, no matter how far low you have fallen. It is never too late to turn your life around. A positive attitude combined with resilience will help you overcome any physical or social barrier in your way. 

Remember, the key is to always believe in yourself. 

Recap

Adversity is inevitable but how you choose to respond to it is what matters. Will you allow the challenges to break you or will you make them your guiding light and learn to fight back? Your fate is in your own hands.

This is the power of the human spirit. We never back down and let out problems define us. Are you struggling with something in life? Let’s discuss how you can overcome it without giving up!

Also Read: Gary Vaynerchuk’s Motivational Life Story, Quotes And Sayings