When adversity strikes, that's when you have to be the most

LL Cool J, a warrior of words and rhythm, once gave this counsel forged in the fires of struggle: “When adversity strikes, that’s when you have to be the most calm. Take a step back, stay strong, stay grounded and press on.” In this wisdom, he reveals the secret of victory—not in frenzy or despair, but in calmness of spirit, steadiness of will, and the unshakable courage to move forward when the storm is fiercest. For adversity is the test of all men and women, and only those who master themselves in the moment of trial will prevail.

When he speaks of adversity, he speaks of the universal enemy—the blow that comes without warning, the hardship that shakes the foundations, the trial that threatens to unravel our strength. It is not a question of if adversity will come, but when. And when it does, it is not the size of the obstacle that decides our fate, but the state of our mind. Many are defeated not by the blow itself, but by the panic that follows.

Thus, LL Cool J counsels us to be the most calm. This is no ordinary calm, but a calm born of wisdom and discipline. To still the heart when it rages with fear, to quiet the mind when it races with despair—this is the strength of the ancients, the strength of those who do not let chaos master them. By taking a step back, we gain perspective; by not rushing blindly, we see clearly; by holding our ground, we prepare to advance once more.

History gives us many examples of this truth. Consider Winston Churchill in the darkest days of World War II. When bombs fell on London and despair gripped his people, he did not panic, he did not falter. He stood calm, steady, grounded in resolve. His words, calm yet fierce, gave his nation the strength to endure. By his calmness in adversity, he transformed fear into courage, and his people pressed on to eventual victory.

This teaching also echoes in the life of Harriet Tubman, who led enslaved men and women to freedom through the Underground Railroad. Adversity stalked her at every step—betrayal, capture, even death. Yet she did not lose her calm. She would pause, listen for danger, trust her faith, and guide her people forward. Her strength lay not only in her bravery, but in her ability to stay grounded and calm when others trembled.

The deeper wisdom of LL Cool J’s words is that true strength is not shown in ease, but in crisis. Anyone can appear strong when skies are clear, but the one who remains calm when the storm rages is the one whose roots go deep. Calmness is not weakness—it is mastery. To stay grounded when adversity strikes is to prove that you are unshakable, and to press on is to prove that you are undefeated.

The lesson for us is this: when adversity comes, do not let fear drive you. Instead, pause. Breathe. Take a step back to see the whole battlefield, then act with clarity. Remind yourself to stay strong, stay grounded, and press on. Do not let the trial define you; let your response to it shape you. For it is not the adversity that will be remembered, but how you endured it, how you rose beyond it, and how you kept moving forward.

So let these words echo in your heart: “When adversity strikes, that’s when you have to be the most calm.” In the fire of hardship, stand steady. In the noise of chaos, be still. In the weight of trial, stay grounded. And when the moment is right, press on with courage. For those who can master themselves in the storm are those who emerge not broken, but victorious, bearing the strength that adversity itself has forged within them.