Writer and blogger Marc Chernoff believes that there is always something
to be thankful for. And that no matter how good or bad things are, you
must wake up each day and be thankful for your life, because someone
somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs.
The truth is that happiness is not the absence of problems, but the
ability to deal with them. Imagine all the wondrous things your mind
might embrace if it weren’t wrapped so tightly around your struggles.
Always look at what you have, instead of what you have lost. Because
it’s not what the world takes away from you that counts; it’s what you
do with what you have left.
Here are some of Marc’s ideas which might help motivate you when you need it most.
1. Pain is part of growing
Sometimes life closes doors because it’s time to move forward. And
that’s a good thing because we often won’t move unless circumstances
force us to. When times are tough, remind yourself that no pain comes
without a purpose. Move on from what hurt you, but never forget what
it taught you. Just because you’re struggling doesn’t mean you’re
failing. Every great success requires some type of worthy struggle
to get there. Good things take time. Stay patient and stay positive.
Everything is going to come together; maybe not immediately, but
eventually.
Remember that there are two kinds of pain: pain that hurts and pain that
changes you. When you roll with life, instead of resisting it, both
kinds help you grow.
2. Everything in life is temporary
Every time it rains, it stops raining. Every time you get hurt, you
heal. After darkness there is always light — you are reminded of this
every morning, but still you often forget, and instead choose to believe
that the night will last forever. It won’t. Nothing lasts forever.
So if things are good right now, enjoy it. It won’t last forever.
If things are bad, don’t worry because it won’t last forever either.
Just because life isn’t easy at the moment, doesn’t mean you can’t
laugh. Just because something is bothering you, doesn’t mean you can’t
smile. Every moment gives you a new beginning and a new ending. You get
a second chance, every second. You just have to take it and make the
best of it.
3. Worrying and complaining changes nothing
Those who complain the most, accomplish the least. It’s always better
to attempt to do something great and fail than to attempt to do nothing
and succeed. It’s not over if you’ve lost; it’s over when you do nothing
but complain about it. If you believe in something, keep trying. Don’t
let the shadows of the past darken the doorstep of your future. Spending
today complaining about yesterday won’t make tomorrow any brighter.
Take action instead. Let what you’ve learned improve how you live. Make
a change and never look back.
And regardless of what happens in the long run, remember that true
happiness begins to arrive only when you stop complaining about your
problems and you start being grateful for all the problems you don’t
have.
4. Your scars are symbols of your strength
Don’t ever be ashamed of the scars life has left you with. A scar means
the hurt is over and the wound is closed. It means you conquered the
pain, learned a lesson, grew stronger, and moved forward. A scar is the
tattoo of a triumph to be proud of. Don’t allow your scars to hold you
hostage. Don’t allow them to make you live your life in fear. You can’t
make the scars in your life disappear, but you can change the way you
see them. You can start seeing your scars as a sign of strength and not
pain.
Rumi once said, “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.“
Nothing could be closer to the truth. Out of suffering have emerged the
strongest souls; the most powerful characters in this great world are
seared with scars. See your scars as a sign of ”YES! I MADE IT!
I survived and I have my scars to prove it! And now I have a chance
to grow even stronger."
5. Every little struggle is a step forward
In life, patience is not about waiting; it’s the ability to keep a good
attitude while working hard on your dreams, knowing that the work
is worth it. So if you’re going to try, put in the time and go all the
way. Otherwise, there’s no point in starting. This could mean losing
stability and comfort for a while, and maybe even your mind on occasion.
It could mean not eating what, or sleeping where, you’re used to, for
weeks on end. It could mean stretching your comfort zone so thin
it gives you a nonstop case of the chills. It could mean sacrificing
relationships and all that’s familiar. It could mean accepting ridicule
from your peers. It could mean lots of time alone in solitude. Solitude,
though, is the gift that makes great things possible. It gives you the
space you need. Everything else is a test of your determination, of how
much you really want it.
And if you want it, you’ll do it, despite failure and rejection and the
odds. And every step will feel better than anything else you can
imagine. You will realize that the struggle is not found on the path,
it is the path. And it’s worth it. So if you’re going to try, go all the
way. There’s no better feeling in the world...there’s no better feeling
than knowing what it means to be ALIVE.
6. Other people’s negativity is not your problem
Be positive when negativity surrounds you. Smile when others try
to bring you down. It’s an easy way to maintain your enthusiasm and
focus. When other people treat you poorly, keep being you. Don’t ever
let someone else’s bitterness change the person you are. You can’t take
things too personally, even if it seems personal. Rarely do people
do things because of you. They do things because of them.
Above all, don’t ever change just to impress someone who says you’re not
good enough. Change because it makes you a better person and leads you
to a brighter future. People are going to talk regardless of what you
do or how well you do it. So worry about yourself before you worry about
what others think. If you believe strongly in something, don’t
be afraid to fight for it. Great strength comes from overcoming what
others think is impossible.
All jokes aside, your life only comes around once. This is IT.
So do what makes you happy and be with whoever makes you smile, often.
7. What’s meant to be will, eventually, BE
True strength comes when you have so much to cry and complain about, but
you prefer to smile and appreciate your life instead. There are
blessings hidden in every struggle you face, but you have to be willing
to open your heart and mind to see them. You can’t force things
to happen. You can only drive yourself crazy trying. At some point you
have to let go and let what’s meant to be, BE.
In the end, loving your life is about trusting your intuition, taking
chances, losing and finding happiness, cherishing the memories, and
learning through experience. It’s a long-term journey. You have to stop
worrying, wondering, and doubting every step of the way. Laugh at the
confusion, live consciously in the moment, and enjoy your life
as it unfolds. You might not end up exactly where you intended to go,
but you will eventually arrive precisely where you need to be.
8. The best thing you can do is to keep going
Don’t be afraid to get back up — to try again, to love again, to live
again, and to dream again. Don’t let a hard lesson harden your heart.
Life’s best lessons are often learned at the worst times and from the
worst mistakes. There will be times when it seems like everything that
could possibly go wrong is going wrong. And you might feel like you will
be stuck in this rut forever, but you won’t. When you feel like
quitting, remember that sometimes things have to go very wrong before
they can be right. Sometimes you have to go through the worst, to arrive
at your best.
Yes, life is tough, but you are tougher. Find the strength to laugh
every day. Find the courage to feel different, yet beautiful. Find
it in your heart to make others smile too. Don’t stress over things you
can’t change. Live simply. Love generously. Speak truthfully. Work
diligently. And even if you fall short, keep going. Keep growing.
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