We tell ourselves so many stories about the things we have and the things we want. But in the quest to bring our stories to life, often times, we are met with struggle. We tell ourselves that overcoming these struggles provides value. It doesn’t. Overcoming challenges provides value. Overcoming struggle is nearly impossible.

Taking the Long Way

When you realize you’re struggling, it shouldn’t be too hard to see that you’ve been here before. Themes repeat and continue to play out in life, year after year. Instead of recognizing and addressing the theme, we attempt to adjust ourselves — we take advice of others, we do all the “right” things to alleviate the physical experience of the struggle. Yet we keep struggling. That’s because this approach is taking the long way.

Here’s a shortcut. Work to realize that you’re struggling because you’re not being honest with yourself about what you want.

Sure…you may like where you are, but struggles are a sign to yourself to be honest about the path you are on.

Overcoming Struggle

So you’re probably wondering how to find the theme of the struggle so you can start making your way to not struggling. You can find those steps here. But there’s another step you must do when you’re done.

The Next Step

Say you find the theme of your struggle is your relationship, or perhaps your money, it could be anything. You must then ask yourself what it is about this theme that you DON’T want. Follow the theme’s path to the object (or person) it’s attached to. If you’re struggling with money, maybe you need to look at whether you actually want the material things you have to support. If you struggle with your relationship, maybe you’re not meant to be with that particular person…or with anyone at all.

There’s no “right” or “wrong.” Those are in the eye of the beholder. You decide what’s right for you…because your struggles are definitely showing you what’s wrong for you.

The Point of the Struggle

Stop justifying the struggle by looking for what you do want in the situation. Start challenging yourself to look at what you don’t want about those things. And be honest with yourself. No one will know…yet. Because, when you find the “don’t,” you’ll know exactly what to do.

It’s never too late. Every struggle holds wisdom, you just have to know how to apply it…rather than regret it. When you find yourself facing challenges, rather than struggles, you’ll know you’re finally on the right path.