Overcoming Adversities

By Rolando José Olivo

Humans possess extraordinary abilities that are superior to those of other species and their desires, motivated by primary (physiological and safety) and fundamental needs (belongingness, esteem and self-actualization) have virtually no limits.

On the one hand, the search for answers to existential questions, the achievement of a life purpose and the pursuit of happiness are the pillars that sustain the hopes of all human beings. But, on the other hand, people are prone to suffer in the face of adversities and also due to the emotional reactions they might have to different circumstances.

During these times of technology advancement, rising of production and consumerism, people’s dilemmas have sharply increased, leading them to fall into the trap of the postmodernity (replacement of the search and subsequent fulfillment of a life purpose with the exaggerated satisfaction of primary needs), which is contrary to the ideals of spirituality and transcendence.

Human beings are exceptional. A resilient and motivated person can overcome any adversity and achieve incredible goals. In this sense, overcoming adversities include: going beyond the frustration, the resentment, the depression, the exhaustion (burn-out) and the boredom (bore-out); as well as accepting the positive influence of religions and living an exemplary and virtuous life.

Overcoming adversities is a fact of spirituality and transcendence, aimed at finding the meaning of life and the faithful fulfillment of that extraordinary purpose.

INDEX

I. INTRODUCTION

II. THE HUMAN BEING

II.1 DEFINING THE MEANING OF HUMAN BEING
II.2 HUMAN NEEDS
II.3 HUMAN RATIONALITY

III. THE HOPES OF HUMAN BEINGS

III.1 THE GREAT MYSTERIES
III.2 THE MEANING OF LIFE
III.3 THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

IV. THE SUFFERINGS OF HUMAN BEINGS

IV.1 HUMAN EGOISM
IV.2 THE MERIT-FAULT DOUBLE STANDARD
IV.3 THE TRAP OF POSTMODERNITY
IV.4 FRUSTRATION
IV.5 RESENTMENT
IV.6 DEPRESSION
IV.7 EXHAUSTION OR BURN-OUT
IV.8 BOREDOM OR BORE-OUT

V. THE EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN QUALITIES

V.1 CONSCIOUSNESS
V.2 LOVE
V.3 MOTIVATION
V.4 RESILIENCE

VI. OVERCOMING ADVERSITIES

VI.1 BEYOND FRUSTRATION
VI.2 BEYOND RESENTMENT
VI.3 BEYOND DEPRESSION
VI.4 BEYOND EXHAUSTION OR BURN-OUT
VI.5 BEYOND BOREDOM OR BORE-OUT
VI.6 THE INFLUENCE OF RELIGIONS
VI.7 THE DECALOGUE OF A VIRTUOUS LIFE

VII. CONCLUSIONS

VIII. BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rolando José Olivo
• Release date: Oct 14, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463910177

Rolando José Olivo

[e-mail] Instagram: @rolandojolivo Systems Engineer with 3 postgraduate degrees: Master's Degree in Applied Economics, Diploma in General Management and Specialization in Management of Social Programs (Summa Cum Laude). Work experience in companies in the oil sector, occupying these positions: Planning and Logistics Manager, Project Coordinator, Financial Advisor and Consultant. Consultant in the economic and financial area. Writer of books on economics, management, self-help, novels and Christianity, among others.

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I. INTRODUCTION

Human beings are really exceptional. They possess extraordinary abilities that are superior to those of other species and their desires, motivated by primary (physiological and safety) and fundamental (belongingness, esteem and self-actualization) needs have virtually no limits. However, there is a permanent need-achievement-need cycle, characteristic of the rationality of human thought, that generates dissatisfaction, breaks with animal monotony and compels humans to focus on the fulfilling of new desires.

Even more, human beings are driven by the needs to: a) find the answers about life’s greatest existential mysteries, b) accomplish their life purpose, and c) achieve happiness. Although science hasn´t been able to offer satisfactory answers to the existential questions, the religions have provided certain notions.

The constant human aspiration to satisfy needs, along with the different theories and perspectives that have emerged about this matter, are aimed at finding the meaning of life and achieving happiness. In this regard, Dr. Viktor Frankl made important contributions with his ideas about the meaning of human life.

Nowadays, it is recognized that a hedonistic and hyperconsumerist lifestyle might momentarily fulfill basic needs at the physiological and safety level, but it´s not possible to achieve an ideal state of happiness, without satisfying the needs of belongingness, esteem and self-actualization.

Furthermore, people are prone to suffer in the face of adversities, and also due to the emotional reactions they might have to different circumstances (self-centeredness, mimicry, the merit-fault double standard, frustration, resentment, depression, exhaustion or burn-out and boredom or bore-out).

In these times of technology advancement, rising of production and consumerism, people’s dilemmas have sharply increased, leading them to fall into the trap of postmodernity: the search and subsequent fulfillment of a life purpose has been replaced by the exaggerated needs to satisfy basic comforts, leaving behind the ideals of spirituality and transcendence.

This situation has led many people to feel frustrated for not having enough material goods or higher living standards; whereas seemingly successful people with considerable amounts of material resources, feel they don´t know what to do with their lives.

Nonetheless, human beings are truly exceptional. They have a conscious mind that allow them to distinguish good from evil, the capacity to love, a motivational drive and their resilience.

In that sense, a motivated and resilient person is able to accomplish the highest goals and face adversities by:

1. Going beyond frustration:

No dwelling on past failures and leaving behind negative events.

2. Going beyond resentment:

Cultivating a resilient attitude in order to let go of resentment before it manifests indefinitely.

3. Going beyond depression:

Not letting tragic events affect significantly and recovering quickly from suffering.

4. Going beyond the burn-out and the bore-out:

Studying the causes of the burn-out and bore-out phenomenon by analyzing the life purpose and how the fundamental needs (belongingness, esteem and self-actualization) are been satisfied.

Likewise, a decision must be made whether to continue with the same job or to take on other activities. It is also important to rest, enjoy leisure time and take care of health.

5. Recognizing the positive effects of religions:

The religions provide certain notions to existential questions, strengthen principles and moral values, and also help to prevent from falling into the trap of postmodernity (which places satisfaction of primary needs over the pursuit of a life purpose).

6. Living an exemplary and virtuous life:

It helps to mitigate pain, develop extraordinary human skills, satisfy fundamental needs, achieve a life mission, and serve others and God.

Overcoming adversities is a fact of spirituality and transcendence, aimed at finding the meaning of life and the faithful fulfillment of that extraordinary purpose.

II. THE HUMAN BEING

II.1 DEFINING THE MEANING OF HUMAN BEING

II.2 HUMAN NEEDS

II.3 HUMAN RATIONALITY

II.1 DEFINING THE MEANING OF HUMAN BEING

Philosophers, at different times, have wondered what it means to be human, but to-date no one has been able to provide a precise definition, because any attempt ends up being insufficient, limited or incomplete. Even if we try to solve this question by defining humans based on attributes, behaviors and reasoning, there is no way to fully answer it, due to the holistic and synergetic nature of the human concept, that tells us that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

That is the reason why there will always be new characteristics constantly expanding the meaning of being human.

We are truly exceptional!

There aren´t enough words to express what it means to be human, let alone delimit its concept!

Our abilities are superior to the skills of other species!

We are creative!

We are curious!

We are emotional!

We are innovative!

We are perseverant!

We are rational!

We are skillful!

We are thoughtful!

We have a conscious that distinguishes good from evil!