When my parents died, it was especially difficult for me, and I honestly don’t know how I got through it without my bigger brother, but it taught me so much. Becoming bankrupt was another low point, and so was the near implosion of my marriage, but they all taught me something profound about myself. There are times when life is hard, and we can quickly deplete our toolbox of coping mechanisms. It may get so bleak that we fall into a sense of
hopelessness.
And that’s when a new set of tools can present itself when you least expect it.
I don’t search out struggle, but neither do I shy away from a challenge. Adversity and hardship can contribute to your self-worth, especially when it causes personal reflection and introspection. When shit happens And if we’re smart, we look into ourselves, asking questions the answers to which can result in huge distinctions in your life. The kind of distinctions that can make you a better person.
The struggle can also be cleansing. It can make you refine what is essential and what is not. Adversity can give you a clearer focusÂ
There is also a maturing element to hardship. Mature means being seasoned, tested, hardened, weathered, ready, and fully developed. So adversity and hardships can develop character, and that is a good thing.
Just remember that when we struggle, it’s a sign that we have stepped out of our comfort zone, and as the quote says, comfort is the enemy of progress. It’s a reminder of how far we have come and how we have changed a little bit during our journey. With every new step we take, we change. It’s why we continue to have problems along our path, especially if we’re growing.
That’s one of the reasons I write speculative fiction. The challenge and the ability to get uncomfortable with occult or scientific concepts I’m unfamiliar with.
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