If there’s anything that I’ve learned over the last year or two, it’s that life is not always easy. In fact, frequently it’s not easy. But I’ve also learned that I’m strong enough to get through just about anything. At least anything I’ve experienced to date.
I don’t exactly know where I got the idea that life should be easy. Where did any of us come up with this concept? But no matter where it came from, it’s an idea that I had in my head. That somehow this should be an easy path. Free of struggles and problems. Smooth sailing.
That, however, it a fairy tale.
The best that we can hope for is problems we can solve and good people to spend our time with who will help us through the hard times. And the strength of will and courage of character to pursue changes in our life when things aren’t going the way we wanted them to go.
Now you may think that this a rather grim view of things, given that we’re always preaching self-empowerment here. I like to think of it more as managing expectations.
If we accept that life will throw a certain number of curve balls our way, we will understand that our job is to problem-solve to the best of our ability while still enjoying what’s good in our lives and living life to the fullest, despite our hardships.
If we believe in the idea that life should always be smooth sailing, then we’re going to be prone to anger and bitterness and resentment when things don’t go our way. It’s not to say that it’s wrong to feel these feelings. We’re human. We all experience them from time to time.
But if we can look at our hardships as just another bump in the road – terrain that can be navigated and conquered – then we will build an inner strength that will help us get through not only that hardship, but the next ones as well. Because let’s face it…problems keep on coming.
This is also not to meant to diminish the importance or the depth of pain that some life circumstances can bring. Because there are some life events that will knock you down so hard, you won’t know what hit you. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.
This is where perspective becomes important. It’s critical to recognize which problems are not super critical or life threatening. Because those shouldn’t be given the same weight just because you don’t like the direction that life has taken. Yes, it may be a bitter pill to swallow, but remind yourself of all that’s good in your life and see if it doesn’t take away some of the sting. And even if it doesn’t, nobody said it would be easy.
But the good news is that this, too, shall pass.