In the movie Trading Places, Lewis Winthorpe III, an old money, wealthy commodities broker, with an Ivy League education played by Dan Aykroyd, is forced to swap places with a destitute, homeless conman, played by Eddie Murphy.
This forced adversity drags Winthorpe down into the abyss of poverty and hopelessness, nearly breaking him. He does not break, however. He resurrects himeself because he does not see himself as a destitute, homeless conman. Instead, he sees himself as a successful, wealthy commodities broker.
Everyone, at some point in their lives, faces adversity.
Adversity can break you or it can lift you up. It all depends on your vision of yourself.
For the self-made millionaires in my Rich Habits Study, adversity did not break them. They survived because, despite their failings, they held on to the vision of who they desired to be. This vision forced them to acknowledge their failings and propelled them to take massive action.
In short, their vision forced them to change.
This change was not an easy process. It took time. But everything about their lives was forced to change. Their knowledge, skills, their relationships, and their mindset improved as a result of their desire to change.
What drove them to change was the vision of the ideal person they desired to be.
Adversity cracks everyone’s shell. When your yoke is exposed, the only thing that will save you from self-destruction is your vision of your ideal self.
Define who you want to be today. Anchor yourself in that vision. And believe.
When adversity strikes, that vision will be the yoke which will give birth to your new amazing life.
About Thomas C. Corley
If I remember the movie correctly, Lewis tried to kill himself, but the gun wasn’t loaded. I’d say he broke, but was lucky.