Almost everyone I know has faced—or is coping with—some financial challenge or adversity.
If it isn’t a load of student debt, it’s unemployment, a mortgage crisis, foreclosure, staggering medical bills, or worse.
I’ve observed over the years that not all individuals can handle financial adversity similarly. Some, whom I call financial survivors, hit it head-on, refuse to give in, and invariably come out victorious. They refuse to let money troubles get the better of them. They have a sixth sense for how to bounce back and then go on to thrive and prosper. And I’m talking about even in the worst of times.
When facing financial adversity, financial survivors rely on psychological strengths to carry them through.
Hope
Hope is like oxygen for survivors. They profoundly believe that no matter how bad things get, their lives can improve. Hope is a combination of optimism and realism. It’s not naivete, but rather a deep-seated, profound belief that tough times don’t last but tough people do. Survivors choose hope. It keeps them moving forward.Faith
Faith means that you trust that God has a plan for your life. Many survivors, when telling their stories, have shared with me that they came to a point where they just dropped to their knees and prayed, “Lord, I can’t do this. You take over.” Survivors rely on prayer and a power greater than their own. Faith is the most powerful survival tool.Adaptability
Financial survivors possess the ability to adjust. They don’t wallow in self-pity over the loss of a job. Survivors don’t balk at the idea of downscaling. They adapt.Resilience
An ancient African proverb says that the wind can’t break a tree that bends. This describes the resilience of survivors. They can stretch without breaking. In difficult times, financial survivors don’t stay down for long. They pick themselves up and keep going.Purpose
Having a purpose is the booster rocket of survival. It gives the survivor incredible power to persevere, even in the face of great adversity. Survivors believe that life is a gift and that they’re on this earth for a specific reason.Tenacity
Survivors are strong and able to hang on even when it’s painful. Tenacity is the super glue that gives survivors the strength to never give up. Survivors refuse to let go, even when facing incredible hardships.Love
Survivors aren’t ashamed of their passion for the people they love. They would walk through fire for those who make their lives worthwhile. This kind of love reminds them daily that survival is their only choice in the face of adversity.There’s no time like right now to have a little conversation with your inner survivor. Financial adversity may be heading your way. It’s never the wrong time to get ready.