The Struggle is Real [Good]

We all struggle with something. Sometimes the struggle is physical, sometimes mental, or emotional or spiritual. The struggle doesn’t end. We will face different struggles every single day.

To struggle means you are truly living life.

To struggle is to accept the hard parts of life comes with growth.

To struggle is to push outside of comfort zones and sometimes look like an idiot.

We have this negative connotation that struggling is “bad” and rightfully so. Nobody really wants to look like an idiot who can’t complete a task smoothly.

But what if we challenged this idea that struggling is “bad”? Sure, nobody wants to be seen fumbling through a hard task in front of others, but if we can shift our perspective that struggling is “good” it becomes a welcome event in our daily lives.

I think back to my college soccer playing days. Throughout my college career, I was battling with a teammate in the same grade for the starting goalkeeper spot. Freshman through sophomore year we split playing time pretty evenly. Junior year I watched her dominate from the bench.

It was nothing against my teammate, but after my junior year I knew that’s not the story I wanted for my senior year. That summer is when I truly started to understand the “good” in the struggle.

I chose to wake up early to battle through hill sprints and then eat a nutritious breakfast. I spent my days working 12-14 hours in a restaurant and spent my work breaks kicking a soccer ball against a concrete wall.

I lost 30 pounds that summer and returned to school as a new player and person. I was springy, agile, and confident. The biggest lesson I learned that summer was because of the “good” struggle, I was able find self-belief, confidence, and resilience.

The struggle is not fun, but it is good. Without the messy reps and fumbles through hard work, we would not have obtained all the greatest things our life has to offer.

If you think about your own life, think about a time you have really struggled physically, mentally, or emotionally.

What came from it?

Can you find at least one good thing?

The truth is there is ALWAYS something good that comes from it, you just have to be willing to shift your perspective to find it.

We can choose to grapple and groan with the hard stuff.

Or we can choose brawl with the hard and beam with belief.

At soccer practice, your coach may put you through sprints…. GOOD - this will make me faster in a game.

In competition, the other team may get a free kick in front of your goal… GOOD - this is a chance to show teamwork and grit on defense.

In life, a flat tire makes me late for work… GOOD - this will help me be resourceful and practice patience.

When we switch our thoughts from “this really sucks” to “this is good for me” when hard things happen, it can make a world of difference on how we approach our challenges.

What struggles will you battle today?

How can you find the good and use the struggles to fuel your strength?

The choice is yours on how you see your struggles.

Yes.. the struggle is always real.. But can you make it real good??