What connects all of us as humans? Pain, heartbreak, challenge, and adversity. It’s our stories of struggle and triumph that filter who we connect with, and at the heart of all friendship is a resonation of understanding where another has come from in relation to our own personal stories. It’s powerful to see how very similar we all are at the threads of our being.
But what sets us apart? Why are there some people who alchemize pain into power and productivity, and others who allow it to consume them into a tornado of more pain?
How can you take your own struggles and morph them into something beautiful? How can you encourage others to do the same?
(PS: Let us know your thoughts in the comments on Women On Topp!)
Emotion: Energy In Motion
The very essence of the word “e-motion” is literally energy in motion. We are walking flows of energy and the emotions we carry are determinant on how we interact with the world around us. That’s why, even when some emotions aren’t as enjoyable to experience, they can in fact bring us to that next level we are seeking. For example, no one likes to feel the sadness of heartbreak in all its forms. However, when you experience it, don’t you feel a shift in yourself? Either you don’t want to go back to how things were, or you want to avoid becoming what you saw in someone else, or now your focus has narrowed and your standards heightened.
Anger, depression, boredom—they all yield a more focused future. Maybe, arguably more so than the elatedness of happiness, excitement, and joy.But how do you use those low-point experiences to get to that focus and unstoppable ambition?
You simply have to want more and believe you’re worthy of it.
It comes down to still finding a deeper source of love—either within yourself or from a belief in something greater than yourself. If you can hold onto the belief that there is something better out there waiting for you, it’s easier to start seeing why situations manifested in the ways they did and what value it added to your life, even when it was difficult to see at the time.
Play the role of the warrior, not the victim.
Sometimes the same lessons will come back to test us and see if we are actually serious about changing our ways and habits. If you’re stuck playing the role of the victim, in the mindset that everything is happening to you instead of for you, then you will easily repeat the same lesson again and again in different varieties. However, if you fight for yourself and your future vision, believing that you are strong enough to withstand repeated presentations of past lessons, you will find greater reward and mastery of your goals.
Mentality is a major factor in making positive shifts within your life.
Have you ever noticed that a good amount of the most successful people out there didn’t start out with an easy past? But you better believe they have minds of steel today. It’s because they got clear on what they wanted and wouldn’t allow their minds to sway them to believe otherwise.
Someone else has it worse than you.
Sure. Someone out there does have it worse than you. But, DO NOT LET THAT UNDERVALUE HOW YOU FEEL. You are justified in feeling how you do. No matter how small or large of scale your situation is. Do not allow someone else’s story be the comparison bar on where or how you should be/feel. You, past and future, should be the only one you are comparing yourself to. Always.
And I hope you have the courage to keep pushing through the hard times and pulling up those behind you once you reach the next step. Connection and compassion are key.
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