While I generally don’t condone foisting one’s beliefs on others, I offer a bit of wisdom that I believe ought to be shared with every person whenever possible. Further, I strongly recommend you consider it of paramount importance if you are a parent.
Here it is: Life is about challenge, NOT struggle!
What’s the difference?
STRUGGLE is a state. It has no discernible beginning, middle, or end. It is by nature endless and timeless. It has neither particular entrance nor escape. It is a state in which one simply finds oneself, without any clear view of how one arrived. As a core belief, it is a breeding ground for lifelong feelings of powerlessness and futility.
CHALLENGE, on the other hand, is an event or circumstance. It has a discernible beginning, middle, and end. Because every challenge is by nature finite, its parameters can be understood, and so ultimate victory is always possible no matter how difficult circumstances may be.
When people are conditioned by example, religion, or experience with the core belief that Life is a series of struggles, they become weak, frustrated, and hopeless. Even if they make a Herculean effort to live better, inherent feelings of futility just end up burning them out from the inside, and they suffer unduly.
Conversely, when people are conditioned to perceive Life as a series of challenges to be met, understood, and conquered, they become strong, confident, healthy, whole, and more inclined to behave as truly human beings. They feel better, live better, do better, and treat one another better. They are likely to become a credit to themselves, society, and the human race.
I would ask that you pay very close attention to whether – consciously or not – you are communicating the message that Life is about enduring struggles, or the message that Life is about meeting challenges. Big difference.
You never know, the life you save might very well be your own.