You’ve heard of IQ and EQ, but have you ever heard of AQ? Your AQ, or adversity quotient, can be the determining factor for your financial success. Simply put, your AQ measures how well you handle and overcome adversity. I love how SuperXLearning defines it: “Adversity Quotient is the ability of a person to be resilient (never give up attitude), emotionally strong, battle through problems and solve challenges outside textbooks.”
How do you respond when things go wrong? Are you hesitant to take the next step in your financial journey because you fear adversity?
As Christians, the Bible challenges us to move forward in faith when we aren’t sure of the outcome. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, you can overcome challenges and enter into all that God has for you. As Philipians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Money doesn’t make millionaires; mindset does. You must become a millionaire in your mind before you become one in your wallet. Boosting your adversity quotient is one surefire way to improve your money mindset! So, here are three ways to boost your adversity quotient and overcome fear that may be holding you back:
1. Evaluate
2. Embrace
3. Execute
3 Keys to Increasing Your Adversity Quotient
1. Evaluate {Fear & Limiting Beliefs}
The first step to increasing your adversity quotient is evaluating your current response to hardship. Specifically, what fears and limiting beliefs do you have? If you don’t know off the top of your head, that’s okay. Invite the Holy Spirit into the process and ask Him to reveal any previous pain or memories that may be causing you to shy away from adversity.
When you experience a loss or failure, it’s normal to be disappointed. However, the enemy will try to keep you discouraged and attach a spirit of disappointment to the hope you once had. Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.” Hope deferred will make you wary of becoming disappointed again, which lowers your tolerance for adversity. Instead, feed your faith and focus on the dream fulfilled that’s in your future!
2. Embrace {Change}
A healthy aptitude for change correlates with a healthy aptitude for adversity. As you embrace change, your adversity quotient will rise. Enduring financial success depends on your willingness to make changes and consistently move into unfamiliar and uncomfortable territory. To be a millionaire, you must be willing to persevere through changes and pivot accordingly.
What change do you feel led to make in your finances right now? You can’t change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction.
A word of encouragement: the minute you change your direction and take the next step, you must leave what’s behind you. Don’t focus on the loss. Instead, fix your eyes on the prize on the other side of change!
You can't change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction.
3. Execute {A Step of Faith & Obedience}
Now that you’ve evaluated limiting beliefs and decided to embrace change, it’s time to execute the next step that God’s leading you to take. Reaching your goals takes more than inspiration– it takes perspiration. I like to say it this way: You must perspire with your inspire in order to create an empire! (before you expire!)
Don’t be afraid if a certain strategy didn’t work out in the past. Previous failure does not promise future failure. Yet, many people never go back into the areas that burned them in the past.
When Becky and I were younger, we had dachshunds named Belle and Baby. One day, I was sitting in the kitchen and heard Baby yelp and scream bloody murder. I went into the backyard, almost certain I’d find Baby injured and dying.
I looked at her shivering body and saw nothing wrong. However, I did see a Great Dane towering over the fence. He wasn’t making a sound, but that didn’t matter. All he had to do was look at Baby, and she went into a tailspin.
“Baby, GET UP!” I yelled. She darted into the house, and until she died, she never went into that part of the yard again.
When it comes to increasing your adversity quotient, you cannot be afraid to go into the areas of the yard that have scared you in the past. Fear is like a Great Dane that’s not barking and has no intention to hurt you.
To overcome fear and grow through adversity, you can’t get paralyzed. You must be willing to execute during difficult times to see enduring financial success. Be confident that God will never leave you or forsake you! (Hebrews 13:5-6).
