How do we confront adversity when it appears before us? Unexpected challenges, sometimes heavy, can also be gifts from life, helping us uncover its hidden meanings and learn to overcome them.
I grew up in an ordinary family in a small district of Tay Ninh province. Life used to be quite peaceful: my parents provided everything, I went to school, studied, and then worked a light job near home. It was a serene life within a serene home, like many others.
However, the world cannot be confined to the warm embrace of family. Stepping into society, the initial struggles often left me breathless. There were problems I didn't know how to solve and didn't dare discuss with relatives. I realized that to truly grow, beyond a school degree, each person must navigate life's "exams", problems with no single correct answer, only solutions suitable for one's own evolving self at different times.
During a period of significant uncertainty, I stumbled upon the book "Adversity is a Gift" by authors Marc and Angel Chernoff, published by The World Publishing House in 2020. Looking at the title, I immediately connected it to the Buddhist perspective on suffering: some things that seem unfortunate are actually opportunities for people to understand themselves better.
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"Adversity is a Gift", translated by Van Anh. Photo: Reader provided
My biggest challenge came at age 30, when I decided to leave my hometown for Saigon to start a new job. At the time, I thought I needed a challenge, to learn more, and to step out of my comfort zone. But reality was not what I imagined. I couldn't keep up with the pace of the new job, lacked life experience, and even the confidence to adapt to the new environment. Mistakes at work became more frequent, and the pressure grew heavier. There were times I felt lost in the bustling city, unsure if I was heading in the right direction or just chasing immediate opportunities.
What exhausted me most was not just the work, but an internal emptiness. I began to feel confused: who am I, what do I truly want, and is the path I am on suitable for my increasing age? That was a time when I fell into a form of existential crisis, where everything that seemed stable before suddenly became fragile, like walking through a fog without seeing a way out.
"Adversity is a Gift" came to me serendipitously. While scrolling through social media, I saw people mentioning the book. When I tried to buy it, it was out of stock on e-commerce sites. I had to call several bookstores. Fortunately, one place still had the last copy, and that's how I was able to hold this "gift" in my hands.
The book, over 200 pages long, consists of many short, simple, and easy-to-read passages. Its content revolves around four main themes: happiness, adversity, relationships, and self-love. As I read, I felt these four parts resembled a life cycle: we seek happiness, then encounter challenges, experience friction from relationships, and ultimately return to confront ourselves.
I often read this book at a small coffee shop at the foot of Khanh Hoi Bridge. Amidst seemingly simple words, I found many thoughts familiar to my own situation. The quote I remember most is on page 111: "difficult times bring good fortune — because they turn dreams into reality. So start each morning ready to run faster than yesterday and fight with all your might". Upon reading that, I realized I had viewed challenges as punishment, seeing myself as a victim, rather than someone with an opportunity to change. I only saw pressure and failure, forgetting that those heavy days were teaching me to grow step by step.
From then on, I began to change my perspective. I was no longer overly afraid of challenges at work, nor did I blame myself too much for not performing well. Instead, I learned to slow down, observe, learn, and be more patient with myself. Whenever I faced an obstacle, I asked myself: what will I gain after going through this phase? It could be a lesson, an experience, or simply an internal change. But all of it holds meaning on the journey of creating the life I want to live.
After more than 5 years living and working in Saigon, I decided to return to my hometown. Now, waking up each morning, I no longer view the past as a burden. I see it as a gift that life sent to help me find a path more suited to myself.
Perhaps periods of uncertainty are not always pleasant. But if we navigate them with a different mindset, we will realize we have changed in ways that peaceful days cannot bring. Only then do we understand the gift that adversity has bestowed upon us.
An Nguyen
Towards its 25th anniversary (26/2/2001-26/2/2026), VnExpress is implementing an initiative to build 25 libraries for 25 primary and secondary schools nationwide. Wishing to extend beautiful stories, the editorial board invites readers to submit reflections for the "My Favorite Book" section.
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