People who overcome adversity have these 7 special personality traits

All of us will face some kind of adversity in our lives, from the loss of a loved one to the loss of a job.

Some people experience extreme amounts of adversity and go on to become very successful and happy.

Want to know what special traits they have? And how can you use them to help you in life?

Read on to find out!

1) They have grit

What is grit? Grit is a combination of different skills that determine how well you can get through difficult times in life. Some people see grit as containing courage, conscientiousness, and more.

Angela L Duckworth et al. in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology describe grit as “perseverance and passion for long-term goals”.

Let’s dive into some of these skills and topics.

2) They are great at goal setting

The first step to having grit is having a goal to work towards.

In moments where we feel totally lost, a pervasive goal can be the thing that motivates us to get out of bed and keep going.

For example, I saw a documentary about a dancer who was born with only one leg. I was amazed at her resilience and grit. Though she could not become a dancer in the traditional way, she lived and breathed dance.

With practice, focus, and determination, she became an amazing dance teacher, using her love and passion for dancing to transcend her disability.

Her students were very happy. In turn, helping others succeed at dance motivated her with a sense of purpose, joy, and gratitude that was heartwarming to watch.

3) They are grateful for what they have

Going through adversity can make us want to turn away from the world, and see the worst things in life.

On the other hand, people who successfully navigate adversity are able to see the good in their situation, despite the bad.

In the example of the dancer, naturally, there was likely a point where she was sad about the unfairness of life. But given time and support, she was able to feel gratitude that she had other working limbs.

This, in turn, enabled her to recognise her potential as a dance teacher and inspire others.

4) They use their experiences to help others

In the same documentary, a courageous and beautiful Australian woman told her story. She was paralyzed from the waist down in a tragic accident as a teenager.

Initially, she was distraught and even ashamed of her disability. She would post pictures of herself on social media but never include her wheelchair.

In time, with the aid of a good support network, she got her life back on track and realized that she could help others by being a role model. She now is an advocate and support worker, visiting and supporting those who have experienced accidents that lead to disabilities.

This compassion for others stops her from feeling depressed or giving in to self-pity. Instead, she is inspired by helping others.

And she is now happy to show the world pictures of her in a wheelchair, facing, embracing, and changing the stigma around wheelchairs.

5) They accept and even ask for support

The Australian lady who was in the car accident has a support network.

As well as having the support from her family, her self-confidence led her to start dating. She met a wonderful man who loves her. 

He is happy to help with certain things that she cannot do alone. He admires her and what she does and is inspired to help make it possible.

At first, though, she was resistant to support from outside her family. But once she owned her condition she was able to accept love and help from others.

The woman and her boyfriend make a great team and together they are able to change people’s lives and become support for other people.

How else could this look?

Getting support could mean having the strength and courage to reach out to others who have faced the same difficulty, or joining a support group or therapy.

6) They have faith in themselves

Whilst a support network is important in overcoming adversity, having faith – believing in oneself – is also key.

We all have moments where we doubt ourselves but underneath that is a strong inner core. A strong belief that we are capable of getting through whatever life throws at us.

One way to have faith in yourself? Use positive affirmations, like those described by best-selling author Louise L. Hay.

7) They use stories of other people’s lives to inspire them

Here’s a real-life example:

I was at one of my lowest points, feeling utterly hopeless, when I happened to see that documentary I mentioned above. (About the two brave women who overcame adversity).

I had lost my job, sent out hundreds of applications with no success, and was suffering financially. On top of that, I was struggling with health issues. I felt very depressed and I wanted to give up.

Then, quite by chance, I saw that documentary.

It could have made me feel even more depressed or led to negative self-talk about how my struggles were not as big as theirs.

But guess what? It had the opposite effect.

Watching their stories made me feel moved and inspired. I could face my own problems by learning about people who were able to deal with adversity and come out stronger. 

I saw how they were enjoying life and feeling passionate about what they do. 

Their stories gave me the strength to keep going, keep applying for jobs, and have faith in myself.

What happened next?

I kept applying and soon got a job. Although it wasn’t exactly what I would have chosen, it was a stepping stone to something bigger. 

Later on, I took a counseling course which helped me to feel better and learn to help others.

The result? I realized that becoming a well-being coach was the thing that would ignite my passion for living again.

To sum it up:

The stories of others helped me overcome adversity and helped me find a new and inspired passion for life. 

Are you facing adversity?

If you are experiencing difficult times right now due to a tough situation, you can get through this! 

How to begin? Embody the qualities, traits, and habits in this article.

You don’t have to do everything all at once. In fact, a step-by-step mindset is often the best way.

You could start with a goal you are passionate about, and really visualize it.

You might also find a support group or counselor, or learn about other people who have been through similar or other difficult times. 

Each personality trait that you can embody will give you the confidence and determination to keep going. 

What will happen if you do? You will develop more and more traits that lead you to success in the face of adversity!