subject: The Blessing of Difficulty [print this page] The Blessing of Difficulty The Blessing of Difficulty
Life is challenging and that's the beauty of it
Every single one of us will face all sorts of obstacles and troubles in a life-time. There is no escaping it. There will be times when everything goes perfectly well. But there will be times when nothing seems to go the right way.
Human beings act much like spoiled children. Do you realize how you take things for granted when all is well just because you expect things to be always well. When things go wrong, however, you curse gods and men. Isn't that so?
Well, that's not a nice way to react. The obstacles in our path are gifts and opportunities that life kindly gives us. The universe tends to our needs in unpredictable ways.
Resistance builds strength
Every gym instructor knows this. How do you strengthen your muscles? Do you wave your arms and legs gently in the air? No, you pull up weights. The heavier the weight, the stronger the muscle will get. .
Weights offer resistance to movement as does any obstacle in your path. You want to pull your arm up, but there is a 15Kg iron disc holding it back. You want to get to work by car, but a flat tire won't let you.
The obstacles in your path are not there to stop you. They are there to make you stronger. And muscles are made of matter and can be torn by excessive weights, our will power and spirit can't. So don't ever regret facing any difficulty. Be ready to face them in a positive way. You can make something good out of every situation. It's always up to you.
"When in difficulty and pain, men look to the divine for help and inspiration;
When in pleasure and comfort, men plunge into the abyss of inertia".
Will over matter: the right mindset and attitude
Weights alone are not enough to make muscles grow. You need the right attitude.
Will you get any stronger if every time you lift weights you give up after the second repetition and complain about how difficult and painful it is?
If you watch people weight lifting in the gym, you'll often hear them moan and growl throughout the exercises. But you'll soon realize that the most successful weight lifters are the ones who can always push their limits a little further with each exercise. They feel the pain and the muscle strain, but they press on for another repetition, and yet another and so on.
We must use the power of our will to overcome the inertia and resistance of matter. So whatever difficulty you find ahead of you, just think of it as a practice of weight lifting: "I'll have to make an effort, it might surely be painful, but it'll make me stronger".
It's a matter of practice
The most ordinary situations are best for practicing. Don't wait for the really tough times to think about this. For you to lift a huge weight, you need long practices with lighter ones.
So get used to facing small difficulties without complaining and without getting into a negative mindset. Learn to enjoy the struggles of life just as the gymnast enjoys his demanding workouts.
Besides, remember you are getting something far better than the gymnast or the weight-lifter in return for you efforts. They are developing stronger bodies while you are developing a stronger mind and spirit.
Don't let yourself down.
Life is meant to be difficult. So don't expect anything else. Be like a warrior who sees each enemy as an opportunity to further improve his skills. Don't hate the obstacles in your path, be grateful for them.
Welcome failure and success with the right mindset and attitude. Remember that what is of the Earth remains on Earth, but our Spirit moves on.
