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“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)
It is important no matter the season of life you are going through to go with a positive mindset. If things are going great, it’s easier to be positive than when you get hit with challenges. The viewpoint you take while going through a season of struggles could cause you to quit the thing you should do or push you forward as you grow and change.
“Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.” – Napoleon Hill
Look at this season as a chance to grow. The struggles of life can frustrate, add stress, cause negativity and drain your spirit. It is easy to fall into a negative mindset when you feel you are being hit with every problem under the sun during this season. Remember that this too shall pass. It’s only a season. As you know we have seasons throughout the year and even when spring hits and areas are still getting snow it’s only temporary. The snow will melt and water the ground to help trees, grass and flowers bloom. In time you too will bloom and shine from this time in your life.
Have you considered that you are going through this season to help you change to provide strength, knowledge and confidence? When we go through struggles in life, many times they are out of our comfort zone. That’s why we would rather not go through them. It causes you to test your life or what you are doing. That review process can change a habit or aspect of your life that if you didn’t go through it, you wouldn’t know what you needed for the next season in your life.
It’s like when you are trying to leave for work and you have a commute and if you don’t get out the door by a certain time, you will miss or hit the traffic. Sometimes when stuck in traffic it’s due to an accident you passed and it could have been you if you had left on time. Other times it’s so you hear something of encouragement on the radio while driving to work you would’ve missed because you’re at work. These aren’t a coincidence. They are God working to show you something you need or to protect you from something you don’t.
Change how you look at this season you are going through. With each struggle look for a seed that will help you grow or change for the better. Are you negative when you should be positive? Is there a blessing where you thought only bad was taking place?
“The tiny seed knew that in order to grow, it needed to be dropped in dirt, covered in darkness, and struggle to reach the light.” – Sandra Kring
Change happens whether or not you want it to. Growth is a choice during change to improve your knowledge, your strength, you patience, your faith and your love. Having a positive mindset helps you overcome during those challenges and look for the blessings. Thanking God for those small things you would have missed if everything was going your way.
Any time troubles hit your life think of it as a growing phase or season. At that moment you are a tiny seed covered in dirt and darkness and figuring out what it is you need to learn from this struggle to help you reach for the light. Will it be difficult? All struggles come with hard work and comfort zones we would rather avoid. Look for the bits of wisdom you need as that is water to provide for growth. Do you need to read a few books about a specific topic to change and grow? How about listening to a podcast, a sermon, a seminar or conference? Do you need to take time to listen to God? What is he trying to teach you? Are you being open to him and listening? Have you prayed about the situation you are in and for answers?
In time you will sprout just above the dirt and you can see the light because the struggle strengthened you and taught wisdom you needed in days to come. To make that goal happen, you might have needed some additional knowledge you had ignored thinking it was too time consuming, and the struggle forced you to make the time to gain that wisdom. Perhaps you got ill and required rest to get well and during that time you read a book, watched a sermon, listened to a podcast that taught you to balance your life more so you don’t get ill.
Things to help you in times of struggle:
1. Journal – Get yourself a notebook or a fancy journal that’s up to you and begin each day writing what you’re grateful for. Those little blessings you see about someone or your surroundings.
2. Be Positive – You need to change your mindset from negative to positive. It is harmful to focus only on the negative in your life. Focus on the positive things going on around you amid that struggle. You can even write those positive things down in your journal. Remember also it can be a visit from someone, a hug, a song, nature, or a friend. There is something positive in everyday you have to look for it.
3. Learn – What do you need to learn to improve your life? Is it health related items? How about a business you want to start? Look for ways to learn about things that can improve your situation. There are ways to teach you what you need to know without spending a ton of money. Use podcasts about topics you are seeking information or books and read about those items. Watch a YouTube video on the topic or just for inspiration during this challenging time. Knowledge with the Internet is everywhere now.
4. Encouragement – Seek those that can provide you with encouragement during this challenging time. Also, be encouraging to others and watch how that improves your own struggles.
5. Temporary – Remember that this season in your life will pass. It may be difficult but it is only temporary. Keep telling yourself that the sooner you figure out what you need to learn to grow and change the shorter this season will be for you. No matter what though it will pass in time.
6. Blessings – Open your eyes and look for the blessings of this circumstance. When we are going through a difficult time, we don’t see the blessing until the season has passed and years go by. You need to take notice now while you are in it. Is it being with that someone special while they are going through a health challenge? What about enjoying the small things that don’t cost a lot when going through financial difficulties? There’s receiving unexpected surprises each day that makes the day better?
7. Thankful – No matter what your current struggle might be things can always be worse. Be thankful for what you are going through, the lessons available to you, the encouragement, the growth and change happening in your life for the better.
8. Pray – If you are struggling you should pray to God every moment you can and asking for wisdom, understanding, peace and joy. Then thank him for those small or large blessings taking place in your life. Those people in your life so near and dear to your heart. For him being in control and guiding you through this season.
In conclusion, life is full of challenges for everyone. Are you facing them with a positive mindset, a grateful heart, seeking wisdom and looking for blessings in every area? Even in these moments there are opportunities. This season will pass soon enough and you will change from a seed to a growing tree. Perhaps you are a sapling and you are struggling with the winds to get your roots deep enough to keep from falling over. There will continue to be seasons of growth and they will soon pass and if you stay positive you will get through them to improve your life.
Let me know what season you are in right now? If you have any tips to get through those challenging seasons, we would love to hear so leave a message below.
Blessings,
Lisa