Everything is a present

You’d think being imprisoned in a concentration camp would break your spirit wouldn’t you?

It certainly would do for most people. But not for the incredible Alice Herz Sommer. Her eternal, unflinching optimism enabled her to see the experience as a gift. Imagine that – a gift!

You know what? It turns out – adversity is good for you.

As Bruce Lee said – “Don’t pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to overcome a hard life”.

When you can look back on the most difficult experiences of your life and see them as a gift, you know you’re really evolving. You’re really understanding what the whole point of existence is – to learn and evolve!

Adversity can bring out the best in us, there’s no doubt about it. It’s up to us to choose how to respond to the circumstances we find ourselves in.

Alice Herz Sommer chose to see her experiences in a concentration camp in a certain way. It was an active decision she made. She took control of her life and chose to see it as a gift rather than to feel victimised and miserable. This was a mental choice she made herself and it determined the quality of her life.

Don’t let your experiences define you – but instead define yourself by how you respond to them!

Your life is yours to enjoy, or be miserable about!

It’s entirely up to you. If Alice can do it in the midst of a concentration camp – can you do it in your life?

You have troubles, we all do. Your problems are real and valid, but you can still choose to rise above them. You can choose to enjoy your life regardless of the challenges it serves you.

Next time you’re challenged and up against it, don’t quibble, don’t cry and retreat. Recognise the experience as the the learning opportunity that it is. Easier said than done? Yes, but it’s also easier than you think.

According to Alice Herz Sommer in the video below it is spirituality that gives her the strength to maintain her optimism. Watch and be inspired by her remarkable approach to life. How much better would your life be if you adopted her attitude? I know I can certainly learn from it!