By Soulaima Gourani, Forbes, July 7, 2019.
The worst wounds are not the ones we see on the surface, but the ones that lay deep within us. Many of us like to believe that adversity is healthy and can lead to success, and although many success stories have emerged from hardship, the fact of the matter is that it is rare. According to Dr. Jim Taylor, author of five parenting books, including Your Children Are Listening, "hardships that are brutal and intense, prolonged and uncontrollable don't create resilience, they create trauma." Growing up in an environment full of danger, parental inconsistencies, poverty and abandonment can translate into altered brain development and cognitive, emotional and systemic disorders throughout the life course excluding many citizens from the life and success they deserve.
Despite a historic low unemployment rate and economic growth in the U.S., many people are still facing significant adversities, leaving them behind and struggling to succeed. Of course, hardships can also inspire others to succeed, all depending on their response to them.
Can the government or charities provide aid to people to land on their feet? Or are personal qualities more important? An article published by N.Y. Times tells the story of Tyrone Freeman, a man who found a job after months of struggle. Tyrone figured out that his own personal qualities along with outside assistance helped him to finally reach his goal and land back on his feet after being laid off and unemployed for almost one year.
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