“Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow
Don’t walk behind me… I may not lead
Walk beside me… just be my friend”
― Albert Camus
tough times
Tough Times and Tough People
Tough times happen. They happen to all of us. We can complain that life isn’t fair. Life, however doesn’t abide by that rule. Life happens and we get caught in it, Tough times serve a useful purpose. Roy T. Bennett explains, “Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end.” It’s not that we need to go looking for tough times. Tough times will find us and they’ll bring lessons for us to learn. Wishing you strength and endurance during your tough times and an exit from them into a peace-filled valley.
You Are Tougher than the Tough Times
One thing is certain about life, the tough times don’t go on forever. How we navigate through them tests our character and determines the happiness we experience. We can, during those tough moments, be an example to those who see us. We can show them we have grit. We can keep on grinding until we make it through the tough times. You are tougher than your tough times. Ten times tougher, maybe 1000 times tougher. Don’t let them get you down. Stay strong, push on ahead.
Feeling Good Tip of the Day ~ Build Your Foundation
“Keep a source of inspiration within reach. To help you through the tough and uninspired times, keep something close at hand that will bring you happiness and connection. It may be a photo of your family or a mentor, a book or a collection of quotations that speak to you.” Source
NOTE: Each of us will face tough times now and then. It’s easier to face them if we’ve already built a foundation that stabilizes us. When I need inspiration I go to a series of sports related videos that resonate with me where the athlete triumphs during an unexpectedly hard competition. I feel as if I am channeling their energy. Discover what works for you and make it part of your foundation.
Today’s Positive Thought ~ Tough Times Happen, You’re Tougher
“Tough times go away, tough people do not (Walter Payton).” Every human faces tough times. They are part of the fabric of human life. Much like the ocean tides tough times roll in; they also give way to the changing tide and roll away. Endure the tough times with strength, resilience, and dignity. You are tougher than the tough times. The good times are waiting for you. Hang in there. Never quit.
Think About It ~ Learning the Lessons
Think about the toughest time you’ve experienced then ask yourself, ‘What can I learn from this experience?’ There are profound lessons to discover in each of our tough experiences. We learn these lessons because we survived the tough experience. We may have been wounded. We may always carry the scars from the experience. The scars remind us of our strength and resilience. The scars remind us of what we’ve learned. The scars remind us how we were able to transform something negative and painful into something positive and beneficial.
Today’s Positive Thought ~ Learn the Tough Times’ Lessons
“Our determination is what creates the path—our determination to make use of adversity rather than escape it (Alex Lickerman).”
If we endure the tough times and don’t let them break us, we can discover the lessons they teach us. The lessons embedded in the tough times prepare us to meet the challenges in front of us. They prepare us to succeed in multiple areas of our lives.
Something to Think About
We all face tough times. They happen. Even on tough days, the sun is going to shine on us. We can look toward the light or we can look toward the darkness. I’ve found that the tough time have a set duration, I can’t wish them away. They’re going to hang around until, like a thunderstorm, their energy dissipates. I do know if I’m look toward the light during the tough times, I endure them a lot better than if I concentrate on the darkness.
What If . . .
What if I find myself in the middle of a tough day? No matter how tough the day, the tough part will end. It’s part of the natural course of life. It may not end as quickly as I want it to, but it will end. There is a better day waiting ahead for us. It we patiently endure, we will leave the tough times behind us and embrace the sunshine once again.
A Better Life ~ The Rainbow Will Appear
There are somethings you don’t get over, you just get through. These are the tough things. We’ve no choice but to keep going, keep hoping, and keep looking for the rainbow up ahead. Keep on walking, the rainbow will appear at the right time.
