Are you struggling with an issue or person in your life right now? We all go through struggles on a daily basis, but some just seem to wear us down. Others take us all the way to the breaking point and we feel like giving up altogether.
When struggles go on long enough we begin to despise the struggle, or worse, the circumstances and people associated with the struggle. While that’s a part of human nature, we’ve got to keep one crucial fact in mind.
We only struggle over the things we care about.
When you struggle over any issue in life it means you care. It means you’re engaged. It means you haven’t given in.
If you’re struggling with your job it’s because you want something better. You may not like your boss, or the work itself, but you’re struggling because you want to excel and provide for yourself and your family.
If you’re struggling with your finances it’s because you know something’s not right. You may not know how to get yourself on budget and get things in order yet, but you at least see the need to do better.
If you’re struggling in a relationship, that’s an indication you still care. You haven’t walked away, and you want your relationship to succeed.
So what can you do when you feel like you’re almost at the breaking point and you want to give in?
- Pray: Humans are fallible, fragile creatures who were not meant to struggle through this life apart from the One who made us. I can attest that no matter what your struggle, no matter how far from God you think you are, you can call on Him today.
- Ask for help: There’s no shame in asking someone for help, but be selective about who you get that help from. Be aware of toxic relationships that only exacerbate the situation. Look for a third party who will care for you—a pastor, counselor, or doctor.
- Take a break: Sometimes walking away temporarily is the best choice you can make. Before you give in to despair or anger, remove yourself from the situation until you can restore calm and clarity.
- Count your blessings: Spend some time taking stock of all that’s good in your life. There are times when you simply need a little perspective to see all the ways you’ve been blessed. Be careful not to play the comparison game by looking at others with jaundiced eye.
- Don’t isolate yourself: Surround yourself with people who love and and will encourage you in the middle of your struggle. Darkness always seems deeper when we’re alone, and our problems feel monstrous in our loneliness. Find people who will help you bear your burden so it becomes lighter and easier to bear.
Don’t despise the struggle you’re in, but rather look at it as an opportunity for growth. Constantly and consistently remind yourself that the reason you’re struggling is because you care, so hold on to that and fact get the help you need to change your circumstances for the better, rescue your relationships, and become who you were made to be.
Also published on Medium.
I’m Jeff M. Miller, and I help ordinary people who are stuck in a rut change their behaviors so they can be extraordinary. I’m an entrepreneur who retired from my full-time job in my early 40s to work from home. I’m a financial counselor, life coach, graphic designer, and passionate believer in helping others improve their lives a little more each day.
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