Difficult times forge strong character, but that doesn’t make enduring hardship any easier. Humans are predisposed to avoid hardship and run away from uncertainty. However, the elements that we fear are the same ones that forge. They forge character, resilience, decision making and all those “things” that ultimately separates winners from losers.
Just think of the brattiest, most spoiled little rich kid you know. He’s spoiled because he hasn’t learned how to deal with failure (not getting his own way). The only way to better manage failure is by failing and learning from it.
Much like you don’t get any stronger by “wishing” yourself to the gym — I’ve tried, it doesn’t work — you don’t become more resilient, more disciplined, or more mentally tough by avoiding difficult tasks or taking the easy way out.
Here are three instances that truly give hardship meaning:
1. Pushing through the moment.
You don’t become more self-disciplined by ceding to “easy.” Every difficult moment is an opportunity to push your pain threshold– physically, mentally and emotionally — to the next level, and that’s the secret to success.
Success isn’t something you “attain” or achieve, it’s the route you take to get there and how much difficulty you’re willing to endure. Here’s one way to push through the moment: respond rather than react. Knee-jerk reactions are natural, especially when somebody says something that makes you want to throw them out a window. Don’t do it — for a number of legal reasons. Instead, take a breath and make a conscious choice about your next move.
Whatever you do, don’t retreat. There’s a time and place to surrender, but doing so…