Embrace the Struggle

Sometimes life can be difficult. It can be a bit of a struggle. Wouldn't it be nice if it was easy for us - that we could avoid the difficulties and just have constant joy. I recently heard this example of why life can be difficult. The short of it is that before we came to this life, we chose to endure and even inflict suffering on others - so we can learn and teach each other.

We need to embrace the challenges and struggle of life. Napoleon Hill said "Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle." The key is not to avoid struggle but embrace it. Only then can we grow and grow stronger. I recently purchased some weights because I understand that at my age, my muscles are getting weaker and this is the time to choose to do something about it. If I struggle now then my struggle later will be less as I've gain the strength in my muscles.

 The other challenge that I have is time. Finding time to myself to do what I need or even want can be difficult. I've been watering my garden as well as my soul. I've been opening my mind while folding the clothes. I've been enjoying the time with kids and exercising at the same time. Where I can, I try to find joy in what I have to do so it feels more like what I want to do.

The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he's always doing both. (James A. Michener)