“Life is such a struggle”. Who feels this way?

Yes, life is indeed a struggle. But it is also true that at the same time, life is a walk in the park.

Think for a moment of the things that you take for granted right now that other people have a hard time doing or having. You take it for granted because it’s there all the time – you’ve gotten used to it.

It could be that you can type 75 words per minute. It could be that you are a great doctor who can diagnose diseases. It could be that you can sing on Broadway.

Were these things in-born to you? No, you still had to learn, didn’t you? You still had to practice. You made mistakes. You’ve perfected what you now do quite effortlessly.

Before you got so used to it, didn’t you think that what you are doing so effortlessly now was a struggle? When you were starting to learn it, didn’t you have to make a lot of effort, give it a lot of your time and energy?

You can see where I’m going here now. What you are struggling today becomes what you could be an expert on tomorrow. Yes, you have to give it a lot of time and energy. A lot of effort, perhaps heartache, before it becomes second nature to you.

And when it becomes that – second nature – you will have a new set of struggles.

You see struggles are really only ½ of the equation. We need both challenges and support to grow. As I learnt from Dr John Demartini, we achieve maximum growth at the border of order and chaos, of support and challenges.

Without the challenges, we stop growing.

It’s all about growth. If we embrace the fact that we are here to learn and grow – and LOVE that experience instead of run away from it (you can’t anyway – the universe will make sure you grow), the more fulfilled in life we will become.

The bigger your challenges, the bigger your growth.

Determine your values. Determine who you are. Then follow your heart’s inspirations.

It could be a struggle, but you’ll love it in spite of the pain and pleasure it brings.

©2009 Marissa Carlos