You Have Overcome So Much
Take stock of all the challenges you've come through.
Think of a difficult problem you’ve been dealing with. It’s easy to feel small and overwhelmed when confronted with life’s challenges, as if you’re powerless in the face of forces beyond your control.
And yet that feeling of helplessness belies a tremendous strength inside you. Think of all the things you’ve had to deal with up to this point in your life. You probably haven’t had a single day that was problem-free.
You’ve made it through the daily hassles that plague all of us, from congested traffic to annoying co-workers. You’ve dealt with bigger difficulties that caught you off-guard, like a major illness or losing a loved one. You face daily bouts of internal struggles, like anxiety, stress, and self-doubt.
And yet here you are. You’ve brought who you are and what you have as you meet each day’s demands, even when it’s felt like you’re pouring from an empty cup. You haven’t given up. Even though at times you’ve wanted to.
You might be thinking, “But sometimes I haven’t handled things very well,” or, “I’ve fallen down so many times.” That’s true for each of us. And still you’ve persisted, in spite of those imperfections and shortcomings. In fact, those very shortcomings are another layer of challenges that you’ve been working through all these years.
Perhaps you have more strength than you realize—the strength to handle whatever’s coming your way. So maybe you don’t need to be afraid, now or ever. You’ll have the strength you need when you need it.
What’s more, chances are you won’t be alone. There are probably people in your life who care about you and want to help you. They might even be more willing to help you than you’re willing to ask for the help!
So stand tall. You don’t have to cower in the face of an uncertain tomorrow. Shift your focus from what might go wrong to how you would cope with it.
This exercise from Your Daily Reset can highlight your ability to handle hard things:
With love,