Life’s challenges can be a springboard to happiness. You might laugh, and say “No way, hard times SUCK, and I wish I didn’t have to go through them!” Well, I’m here to tell you differently. To say to you, “Hard times are a gift.”
Yes, it’s true. IF you take the path of learning from them, instead of the path of wishing they didn’t happen, or living from the perspective of “it should have been different.”
That gap between what happens in life like a divorce, losing (or hating) a job, feeling lost or anxious, abuse of some sort, or someone you care about dies, and the amount you wish it didn’t happen and want life to be different is all the extra suffering you add on to what happened or what is happening.
BUT, when you embrace what happened or what is happening, and begin to open to life happening as it did, or is, AND do some soul searching on what can be learned from it, there is gold at the end of that rainbow. I’m not kidding.
It has been scientifically proven that when we can take a hard or traumatic time in life and learn from it, all kinds of good things happen for us on the inside.
It’s called “Post Traumatic Growth.” (PTG)
I love this term. It’s exactly what happened to me 10 years ago. Anxiety and a panic attack woke me up to living a life of far more happiness, peace, fulfillment, purpose, and connection. BECAUSE, something in me said I needed to do some personal “work,” instead of avoiding it.
Jane McGonigal, creator of video games, talks about PTG in her Ted Talks presentation. AND relates it to the top 5 regrets of the dying. She helps you see that they are actually very similar. Go figure – we can live a life of no regrets by learning (and growing) from difficult times!
Listed below are the top 5 human qualities scientists have shown to come out of traumatic events IF one takes the path of learning from them:
- My priorities have changed – I’m not afraid to do what makes me happy.
- I feel closer to my family and friends
- I understand myself better, I know who I really am now
- I have a new sense of meaning and purpose
- I’m better able to focus on my goals and dreams
Perhaps you are in a challenging time right now, or have some from the past. Take a look, and do some soul work around it. What are you still holding on to? Who do you still resent? How can you embrace and learn from what happened? What is your part in it?
This is the path to freedom, to peace, to happiness. It is the springboard for living a life you love. It’s a bit like going through a really tight, uncomfortable space, but it’s worth it, hands down, no question.
Take the steps, walk the path of discomfort. Because through the fire is freedom to be who you are meant to be: loving, courageous, peaceful, powerful, purposeful, passionate, and creative!
Categories: Conflict & Forgiveness, Health & Happiness