Peterson Sorenson
Life has a way of keeping us on our toes. One moment, everything feels smooth sailing, and the next, you’re dodging curveballs like you’re in the finals of an extreme obstacle course. And when life decides to throw its weight around, sometimes all you need is the right words to help you push through. Need a little motivation? Here’s your dose.
Stay Tougher Than Your Circumstances
“Tough times never last, but tough people do.” ~ Robert H Schuller
Life has a funny way of throwing challenges at us—like a video game where every level gets more challenging, but you still haven’t found the cheat codes. But here’s the good news: no matter how many banana peels life tosses your way, tough people (that’s you!) always find a way to keep going.
Turn Obstacles Into Opportunities
“The difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is how you use them.” ~ Tamara Kulish
Life is full of unexpected bumps, but whether they trip you up or help you rise depends on your perspective. Picture this: You’re walking along, chasing your dreams, and—bam!—you hit an obstacle. You have two choices: sit there and grumble about it (possibly with a dramatic sigh) or use it as a boost to level up.
Be Grateful And Persistent
“Never let your head hang down. Never give up, and sit down and grieve. Find another way. And don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines.” ~ Leroy Satchel Paige
Ever notice how some people only ask for help when things go wrong but forget to be grateful when life is smooth? Satchel Paige calls that out with a mic drop moment: if you’re only looking up when it’s stormy, you’re missing the sunshine. Gratitude and persistence go hand in hand—so appreciate the good times, too!
Embrace Challenges
“A problem is a chance for you to do your best.” ~ Duke Ellington
Think of problems as pop quizzes from the universe; annoying at first, but ultimately a chance to prove just how awesome you are. Instead of groaning when obstacles appear (or dramatically declaring, “Why me?!”), imagine them as opportunities to flex your skills, creativity, and resilience.
Become Stronger With Life’s Burdens
“I ask not for a lighter burden but for broader shoulders.” ~ Jewish Proverb
Wouldn’t it be nice if life handed us an easy mode button? No stress; it’s just smooth sailing. But here’s the thing: growth doesn’t happen when everything is effortless. This proverb flips the script on hardship; it’s not about hoping for a break but about becoming strong enough to handle whatever comes your way.
Shift Your Perspective
“If you don’t like something, change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.” ~ Mary Angelou
This quote is like a life hack: control what you can, and if you can’t change something, flip your perspective—stuck in traffic? Blast your favorite playlist and turn it into a car concert. Dealing with a challenging situation at work? See it as an opportunity to build patience (or practice your poker face).
Find Hope In Struggles
“When things are bad, we take comfort in the thought that they could always get worse. And when they are, we find hope in the thought that things are so bad they have to get better.” ~ Malcolm S. Forbes
Life is a wild ride. Sometimes, you’re cruising; other times, you’re holding on for dear life, wondering how much worse it can get. But here’s the silver lining: perspective. If things aren’t great, at least they’re not the worst. And if they are the worst? Congratulations—you’ve hit rock bottom, and there’s only one way to go: up!
Learn From Adversity
“Prosperity is a great teacher; adversity is greater. Possession pampers the mind; privation trains and strengthens it.”~ William Hazlitt
Adversity is like a personal trainer; it pushes you past your limits, challenges your mindset, and forces you to grow in ways comfort never could. Just look at history: some of the most outstanding leaders and creators didn’t rise from easy lives; they fought through struggles that shaped them into legends.
Understand The Power Of Perseverance
“Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I’ll show you someone who has overcome adversity.” ~ Lou Holtz
In reality, every great success story comes with its fair share of plot twists. Think about it: every game-changer has faced struggles. At first, Michael Jordan didn’t make it to his high school varsity team. Even Oprah was told she wasn’t fit for television (imagine a world without The Oprah Winfrey Show—no thanks!).
Know How To Smile Through Trouble
“I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.” ~ Thomas Paine
True strength is about standing tall, grinning in the face of chaos, and saying, “Is that all you got?” Life loves to throw curveballs, but the real winners are the ones who catch them and throw them right back. Staying strong isn’t about having it easy; it’s about refusing to let setbacks shake your spirit.
Embrace The Struggle
“If you aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?” ~ T.S Eliot
How would you know if you could swim if you had never dived into deep waters? Growth doesn’t happen in the shallow end—it happens when you’re in over your head, kicking and realizing you’re stronger than you thought. Just ask Steve Jobs, who was fired from his company before returning to revolutionize technology.
Cherish Your Friends
“The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most.” ~ Ulysses S. Grant
True friendship isn’t about who’s there for the good times but who sticks around when everything falls apart. Anyone can cheer for you when life is great, but who are the ones who show up during the struggles? Those are the keepers.
Challenge The Struggles
“The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity.” ~ Seneca
Nelson Mandela spent 27 long years in jail before changing the course of a nation. Stephen Hawking defied the odds of ALS to revolutionize physics. Walt Disney was even told he lacked creativity before building an empire. Watching someone fight through adversity isn’t just inspiring—it’s a reminder that resilience defines greatness.
Embrace Control In Adversity
“Adversity is a fact of life; it can’t be controlled. What we can control is how we react to it.” ~ Robert Storey
You can’t control if your car breaks down, if you spill coffee on your shirt before a big meeting, or if life throws you a curveball when you least expect it. What you can control is your response—do you let it ruin your day, or do you shake it off and keep going?
Keep Fighting Through Challenges
“You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.” ~ Margaret Thatcher
Success and resilience aren’t about getting it right the first time. Life will test you, and failure may knock you down more than once. The key is to keep getting back up, learning from each setback, and refusing to surrender until you’ve conquered your challenges.
Challenge The Norm
“The hardest struggle of all is to be something different from what the average man is.” ~ Charles M. Schwab
Throughout history, those who dared to be different faced resistance, but they also changed the world. Take Albert Einstein; he struggled in school, questioned established scientific ideas, and refused to accept limits on his curiosity. While others followed the traditional path, he pushed boundaries and rewrote physics as we know it.
Know That The Adversity Reveals True Strength
“He knows not his own strength who hath not met adversity.” ~ William Samuel Johnson
A ship’s strength isn’t tested in calm waters; it’s proven in the storm. The same goes for people. Until we face real challenges, we never truly know how strong we are. Think of Thomas Edison, who failed over 1,000 times before inventing the lightbulb. Each failure wasn’t the end—it was proof of his perseverance.
Turn Stress Into Action
“In times of great stress or adversity, it’s always best to keep busy to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.” ~ Lee Iacocca
When life feels overwhelming, sitting still only makes the weight heavier. Frustration feeds on idleness, growing louder the longer it lingers. But the moment you take action—creating or solving—you take back control. Energy, even in its most restless form, is power. Channel it into something that builds you up, not breaks you down.
Understand The True Meaning Of Friendship
“Prosperity makes friends; adversity tries them.” ~ Publilius Syrus
When life is good, friends seem to appear from everywhere—laughter is easy, and company is plenty. But the crowd thins when the tides turn, and the struggles set in. The ones who stay, who stand by you when there’s nothing to gain, are the ones who were always real.
Build Strength Through Overcoming Obstacles
“One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity.” ~ Albert Schweitzer
Do you know that real strength isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something you earn? Every obstacle you overcome adds another layer of resilience, turning struggle into unshakable power. When life throws its most brutal punches, it’s not luck that keeps you standing; it’s the strength you’ve built by never backing down.
