Is Adversity a Privilege?

We don’t often think of struggle as a gift. For most of us, adversity feels more like an unwelcome visitor — one we wish would leave as quickly as it arrived. Whether it’s weight loss, health challenges, injury, bereavement, or simply the daily effort of trying to be a little better than yesterday, adversity tends to wear us down.

But what if we flipped the script?

Recently, I was watching a post-fight interview. The winner, bruised and exhausted, said something that stuck with me:

“Adversity is a privilege.”

When a fighter says, “Adversity is a privilege,” it’s not bravado — it’s a window into their mindset. It speaks to grit: the quiet courage to show up when it’s hard, the resilience to bounce back from setbacks, and the tenacity to keep moving forward, not just when it’s easy, but especially when it’s not. This kind of person doesn’t just endure discomfort — they seek it out as a proving ground. It’s a mindset built on discipline, humility, and an unshakable belief that growth comes through struggle. That’s what makes adversity a privilege — not because it’s pleasant, but because it’s powerful.

Why Adversity Can Be a Gift

Adversity forces us to pause, to think, and to evolve. It’s uncomfortable — no doubt about it — but discomfort is often the doorway to meaningful change. Without resistance, we don’t get stronger. Without challenge, we don’t grow. Without frustration, we don’t learn to question our patterns.

Whether you’re trying to lose weight, manage your stress, get back in shape after an injury, or just show up for yourself more consistently, the struggle you feel isn’t a sign you’re failing — it’s a sign you’re engaged in the process. You’re in the fight. You’re not on the sidelines.

Reframing the Fight

Here’s the trick: instead of seeing adversity as a wall, try viewing it as a training partner. It’s not there to beat you — it’s there to sharpen you. Just like in any training session, the pushback is where the magic happens. It reveals what’s working and what’s not. It teaches patience, persistence, and self-respect.

And like any good fight, it takes time, tactics, and mindset.

Are You an Everyday Fighter?

You don’t need to be a ring fighter or champion to live by this mindset. If you’re showing up to train when you’re tired, choosing better food even when you’re stressed, or simply trying to change long-held habits, you’re already displaying courage.

An everyday fighter doesn’t quit. They fight for their health, their growth, their peace — one small, determined step at a time.

That effort — that willingness to face discomfort — is a form of privilege. Because it means you still believe in your capacity to change.  A rare opportunity — not given to everyone — to grow in ways that comfort never could.

Adversity is not a punishment. It’s a mirror. It shows you who you are and who you’re becoming.

But a Privilege?  Really? 

It might sound strange — even unfair — to call adversity a privilege. After all, when life feels like a storm, who wants to hear that the rain is a gift? 

We usually think of privilege as something comfortable: wealth, status, access, ease. Something you're either born with or acquire. 

This isn’t about what you have, but about who you become.

Psychologists and neuroscientists have shown that humans adapt and grow most when exposed to challenge. Stress, when it’s not overwhelming, actually helps build resilience — mentally, emotionally, even physically. It’s called “stress inoculation” in psychology, and it suggests that learning to manage discomfort is what makes us stronger, more capable, and more self-aware.

This is the kind of privilege that’s often invisible.  The privilege of being shaped by struggle. It’s what Captain Sir Tom Moore embodied during the pandemic, when he said, “Tomorrow will be a good day.”

So yes, adversity can be a privilege — not because it’s easy or desirable, but because it offers something comfort never will: the chance to grow roots, not just wings.

Final Thoughts

So next time things feel heavy — the workout that’s too hard, the scale that won’t budge, the habit you just can’t shake — remember this:

• Adversity is a privilege.

You’re in the arena. You’re learning, you're fighting and you’re growing, whether you realise it or not.

• Keep going. 

The struggle is shaping you into someone stronger than you were yesterday.