Perhaps nobody was better at “rolling with the punches” – literally – than Muhammad Ali. In 1974, Ali used a tactic called the Rope-A-Dope against George Foreman.
The Rope-A-Dope is a boxing tactic that involves allowing your opponent to hit you. It seems counterintuitive, but it is designed to tire your opponent out. When they’re exhausted, you take your opportunity to strike.
In life, you’re going to get a lot of punches thrown at you. How you respond to the hits is up to you. You can either get knocked down, or you can take the shots and wait for your opportunity to succeed.
Expect adversity
When you get knocked down, get up as soon as you can. Move on to the next thing. Figure out what knocked you down. Next time it comes for you, be ready, be confident, and absorb the blow.
Expect and plan for adversity. Have a backup plan and a support system. You need someone in your corner to help keep you motivated and tell you if you need to switch up your strategy.
You may get hit with something you didn’t think would happen, but if you prepare correctly, it won’t take you down. You will be able to get back up and fight until the end.
Smile in the face of adversity
Be able to smile in the face of bad situations. It makes them more bearable. Recognize that you will be able to look back on the tough moments fondly when you achieve your final goal.
Having a sense of humor is also a great tool. Laughing at yourself and the situation is a great way to deal with adversity. Life doesn’t need to be taken 100% seriously all of the time.
Be humble enough in yourself to admit when you make a mistake. Be confident enough to realize it won’t happen again, laugh a little, and then get back to work.
Know your final goal
In order to be able to push through struggle, there has to be some light at the end of the tunnel. You have to know that there is a purpose to willingly put yourself through adversity.
When you’re having a hard time, it’s important to be able to look ahead to the finish line. You to find comfort in knowing that your hard work now will not be for nothing later.
You have to know that you are capable of rolling the punches. In order to endure the punches, your final goal has to be clear and worth the punishment. If it is, there’s no stopping you.
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