How to Cultivate a Positive Mindset in the Face of Adversity

A friend recently had the brainbox and other accessories of his Toyota Corolla stolen overnight. While he was still grappling with the aftermath of this robbery, two overhead water tanks within his property collapsed when the stand gave way. Prior to these events, he was involved in a financially demanding project, thanks to the continuous increase in the price of building materials; consequently, the project had been delayed.

During our conversation, he couldn’t conceal his displeasure about the sequence of events that had unfolded. It was a series of unplanned expenses that he could not afford to ignore: he needed the vehicle for work, his tenants required water, and the renovation had to be completed before he could accommodate a new tenant.

As he lamented, he expressed in Yoruba, “O ti wa su mi bayi,” which roughly translates to “I am fed up” in English. This statement triggered memories of similar conversations I’ve had with other people, where the same expression has become a common refrain.

In my attempt to uplift his spirits, I drew his attention to several positive aspects for which he could be grateful:

Nobody was beneath the tanks when they fell, considering that the children of one of his tenants often played under the tank stand.
The part of the iron stand that gave way landed in his neighbor’s compound, just a few meters behind a car, and there was no damage.
Fortunately, none of the tanks fell onto his tenant’s vehicle.

Upon reflection, he sighed and acknowledged that indeed there were things to be grateful for. Dear friend, in a world full of pressures, let’s strive to focus on the positives as much as possible. Not everything can go wrong simultaneously. Peace!