Are you familiar with the phrase: “Tough times never last, but tough people do?” Do you believe it? Well, sometimes during difficult times all we need is a quote like this to keep us inspired, especially when we feel like our distress will never end, or it feels like there is no light at the end of the tunnel!
Tough times are not actually bad though. They can teach us many priceless lessons that we would have not learnt if everything in our lives was easy. They can also teach us that very valuable secret that the Apostle Paul learnt during his tough times in prison – the secret of persevering under pressure. Paul had come to a point in his life where he had learned the secret of turning problems into pearls, obstacles into opportunities, and troubles into triumphs. We too can choose what lessons we wish to learn from these tough times as well.
We can choose either to let them make us better or bitter, or to let them make us tough or tender. It is up to us. It is all about perspective – how we view them and how we handle them.During these times, what we need to do is to constantly remind ourselves about the fact that nothing really is permanent in this world, not even our problems. As we journey through life, we must always bear in mind too, that life will always have its bumps along the way. There will be good times and bad times, easy times and tough times. Life is not always smooth sailing.
Another thing for us to learn is, that even in the most discouraging situations in life, we can maintain high levels of achievement, satisfaction and happiness. That the answer to our problems lies in what we do and the secret lies in a timeless set of specific and practical goal-achieving and problem-solving principles. Once we master these, we will have the power to overcome any challenge and triumph in any crisis, no matter how seemingly insurmountable it may be.
It is all about our attitude! What we need to get rid of is our negative attitude and do our best to stay positive albeit life’s difficulties. We need to have the attitude where we tell ourselves that we can, and the mentality that never fails to remind us that, this too, shall pass. In order to do this, however, we need to pay attention to our thoughts – the things we say to ourselves and to others.
You see, our thoughts are powerful! They cause feelings, and the wrong kinds of thoughts can cause stressful feelings. We need to be aware that there are different ways of looking at things. We can look at the same event in different ways. One is in the optimistic way and the other is pessimistically. We can either look at the same glass as half full or as half empty. It helps if we can learn to look at the good things in life rather than the bad, look at what is working rather than what is not, and give God thanks for what we have – and ask Him for wisdom to make wise choices and decisions in order to move forward.
We need to hold to the belief that whatever hardships we are experiencing at the moment will not last, and they are not meant to punish us. Instead, they are here to test our character and our resolve and to make us stronger. It is wise for us to remember that we have little control on problems, but we have control on how we react and manage the problems that come our way. Therefore, let us choose to be optimistic rather than be pessimistic. Let us stop the blame game and forge ahead allowing ourselves to fail, now and then, but learning from our mistakes.
Everywhere and everyone has his or her own share of problems. We are not alone! Some of us are either going through, have come through, or are about to go through tough times – but we will come to realize that there are no easy solutions to problems.
What we need to do as a people is to unite and face the challenges as a team. Let us band ourselves together, dig our heels in and get to work because there really is no easy road. What do you think is going to happen if we spend 80% of our time focusing on the problem and only 20% on the solution? We will get absolutely nowhere! You see, it is easy to complain. It is easy to be a defeatist.
What we need to do is the opposite – spending more of our time on finding solutions and translating them into action. That is how we will get through these tough times. So each of us need to ask ourselves -What can I do to help and do it. Then one day, we will wake up to realize that the storm has passed. And that day will reveal to us a whole new version of ourselves – much better than the one we knew before.
My friends, the past does not equal the future. The future can be even better than the past, unless you make it worse. We can focus on what is over and unchangeable and miss making it better here and now. Let us leave what’s past where it belongs and let us create hope for the future by seeing what we want in the future- not what we don’t want but what we do want. Since the future’s a blank canvas, we are free everyday to paint it as we wish. We can choose to paint a bleak picture or glorious one. The choice is ours!
Here is a poem written by Mark Strohm, Sr. that may inspire you:
Tough Times
In these times in which we’re living, It’s so hard to make ends meet.
But God is always with us, as His Scriptures do repeat.
He tells us not to worry, what to eat or drink or wear.
He will take care of us completely as he does the birds of air.
But seek ye first His Kingdom and all His righteousness.
Then put your faith in Jesus, your whole life He’ll truly bless.
Don’t worry about tomorrow, live to please Him day by day.
He will guide your every footstep, as He leads you in your way.
He knows your every heartache, every problem, every need.
It’s all so very simple, give Him your life and you’ll succeed!
About the Author: Mrs. Marilyn Hodge owns and operates the Wellness Centre in the Farrington. The Centre offers Counselling Services by Appointment Only. Contact information: 476-3517 or email: marilynb@anguillanet.com
