Evolve Through Struggle

​No one enjoys struggling or being in a challenging situation.  Yet, it happens to all of us at some time or another.  So, why not make the most out of your struggles.

Not everyone chooses to evolve through the struggle, in fact, most don’t.  They would rather quit.  The problem with quitting is, you never learn the lesson, you don’t become stronger and if the same situation comes back up again, you still won’t know what to do.

So, how do you evolve through your struggle?

1. Get the big picture and put things into perspective.  First, decide if this issue is something worth arguing for.  Ask yourself, 5 years from now, will this make a difference in my life?  Ill I still worry about it?  If yes, continue to search.  If not, let it go.  
2. Ask yourself, what skills can I gain from this experience?  What else can I learn?  A patient of mine came in last week after twisting her ankle.  She was in pain, on crutches and frustrated that she couldn’t continue to exercise which is something she loves to do.  When we asked her what she could learn, she replied that she could learn to practice patience.  She could take up a new hobby, she could spend some times with people who she had been ignoring because she didn’t have time to see them.  When we took her back to the accident, she realised that she was in a rush that day.  She was in a hurry and slipped down the stairs because she wasn’t paying attention.  For her, this was a lesson in paying attention.  
3. What patterns and behaviours got me to where I am today?  Did I not speak up when I was asked at work and now, I was laid off for not contributing to the company?  Am I in financial debt now because of my spending habits?  Am I having a health crisis because I have been eating bad food, smoking and not exercising?  Find out what new habits you can develope.
4. What am I in control of?  Most time, you cannot control a situation or how someone else will react to a situation.  The only control that you have is how you react.  Figure what you can control and what you need to let go of.
5. 5.  Ask for help.  If you find yourself spinning in a downward spiral or just feeling stuck.  Ask someone for help.  See if others have been where you are and see how they got out of it.

Every painful experience is an opportunity to evolve.  Make your choice today for a better version of you tomorrow.