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Enduring Life’s Challenges

Are you one of those people who are always happy and smiling?

Are you one of those people who look at all the negative things happening in the world and gets burdened by it?  

Life is meant to be endured. How well we endure it is up to us. Good things happen and bad things happen. Can we control what happens to us? Advocates of the law of attraction believe so. What about when something bad happens to a good person? Did they attract it? 

This life is a probationary time during which we gain experiences, learn from mistakes, develop relationships and, hopefully, discover who we really are and why we are here. Often times, we are put in situations to see how we will react and to teach us what we need to learn that will benefit our personal progression. 

I learned this lesson a few years back. I couldn’t figure out why I could not turn my life around and was stuck in a rut. I thought I was growing by analyzing my weaknesses and trying to overcome them. I read a lot of books, took courses and looked inward trying to analyze what was happening. I was trying to live a good life and be a productive person, good wife and mother. Why wasn’t I happy? 

Then I learned the real lesson. Problems, difficulties and just plain annoyances are just part of life and put before us to test and try us. Just because you are a good person, doesn’t mean your life will become easier. In fact, it may just become more challenging. Once I accepted this, I was able to be at peace, instead of being anxious and always asking “why me?” I now endure whatever comes along, accept it and move on without letting it affect my attitude. I forgive quicker, try to look at the good in others and generally slow down and live in the moment. 

What a difference this shift can make in how you greet each day. I am now thankful for the smallest things that I notice every day. I make an effort to focus on the things that bring me joy and contentment and endure annoyances, knowing they are there for my benefit and will soon pass.

Life is a series of choices. Every day we make hundreds of small decisions, that all combine to where we end up. As a diamond receives its sparkle through pressure, we too can shine by living through our trials and becoming the person we are meant to be.  

If you are a religious person, you will agree that staying on the straight and narrow path is not easy, but at the end of the path is a glorious reward. 

Here are a few simple ways to put more joy in your life.

1.   Don’t get so focused on your “to do” list that you forget to notice the world around you. 

2.     Be enthusiastic about life at the present moment. Look at each moment in a delightful way and be thankful for

      what it means to you.        

3.   Seek out things that give your life meaning. Make up a list of things that bring you pleasure and do more of       

      them.  

4.   Make others laugh. There is nothing better than sharing a good time with another person. 

5.   Plan ahead. Have a joyful event in your calendar that you can look forward to, even if it is just lunch with a 

      friend. 

Many people think that joy can only be experienced when everything is going well. Now, more than ever, we need to find ways to help make the world a better place. Your joy will be reflected in others around you and enrich them, and you will be blessed.

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