Leah Marone LCSW

Resilience: The Power to Overcome, Adjust, and Persevere

Building resilience begins with increasing your self-awareness..

Posted June 27, 2021 | Reviewed by Jessica Schrader

  • What Is Resilience?
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  • Individuals with high levels of self-awareness and self-connection tend to be the most resilient people on the planet.
  • We are designed to experience an array of feelings. If we choose to suppress difficult ones, it becomes harder to feel the positive ones.
  • People are not born with high levels of resilience. It is something they earn through practice and consistency.

I begin most of my training sessions by inviting the participants to define or share their thoughts about the topic of focus. Not only does this encourage participation, but it also helps to identify the audience’s baseline of knowledge. Resiliency, a popular topic of discussion over the last year or so, tends to generate a variety of answers similar to the ones below.

  • Always performing your best
  • Standing strong when life throws challenges your way
  • Having the ability to move forward
  • Not breaking down or appearing weak
  • The strength to cope with various obstacles simultaneously

Most people seem to associate resilience with consistently pushing forward, coping without emotionally breaking down, and succeeding time and time again. All qualities, though, that by definition seem to be more associated with stamina rather than resilience. Stamina is generally associated with sustaining physical exertion within a known block of time. For example, having the energy to finish a marathon or play all four quarters of the game with the same intensity and strength. Sports and physical competitions are scheduled and the duration or goal is common knowledge to those participating. There is training involved and time allotted for rest and recovery.

Events or experiences that require resilience tend to occur without warning, lack a structured format, and can be highly unpredictable. Typically there are no known timeframes or clues to inform you about what may happen next. Of course, the most recent example being the pandemic and how it continues to impact us socially, academically, politically, and economically. It has been a long, intense journey, but also one that has provided unique opportunities to pause, reflect, and rearrange priorities.

How do some people:

  • Remain hopeful and creatively adapt?
  • Push forward and live through life's hardships?
  • Consistently access their resilience and avoid stagnation?

Genetic factors can play a small role in one’s level of resilience, but overall it is something that is learned and acquired through action and perception. Life is not a sprint, but rather a marathon through valleys, mountains, sunshine, and rain. Building resilience consists of several steps. Ones that require time to reflect, acknowledge, adjust, and restore. Individuals with high levels of self-awareness and self-connection tend to be the most resilient people on the planet.

We can persevere through difficult times and uncomfortable obstacles. The necessary tools are already something we possess. They may just need to be activated or nurtured.

Every time you challenge yourself and live with an open mind and open heart, you are increasing your repetitions and in turn, building your confidence and. As humans, we are designed to experience an array of feelings. If we choose to constantly suppress or avoid the difficult ones, it becomes harder to access the extraordinary ones too.

Ways to Build Resilience

1. Accept that change is part of life

This is a challenging step for many simply because we love control, but let’s face it, we don’t have much of it. Change is inevitable and how we receive it is key. Rather than viewing change as derailing or sabotaging, try welcoming it as a challenge, an obstacle, or an opportunity. This mindset will channel strength and optimism rather than trigger feelings associated with the ‘victim’ mentality.

2. Acknowledge what you have already accomplished and navigated

Just pause for a moment and think about all of the events, experiences, and conversations you have been involved in. They are over, in the past. You survived them, pushed through. Sometimes with grace and vigor and sometimes with pure luck. It is so important to encourage ourselves, our children, and our co-workers to take positive risks and welcome the unpredictable and uncomfortable. This is what builds resilience and creates the memories to access later. The wins, the tears, the laughs, and the struggles—they all count. They are all part of your story. You are the creator and therefore have the power to ignite and utilize the strength and knowledge acquired from your past.

3. Maintain presence and perspective

Limit your distractions or at least take the time to identify what it is you need to repeatedly distract yourself from. The world is not out to get you or create havoc. Unfortunately, we tend to do a pretty good job of this to ourselves. Practice showing up as a participant and acknowledge that whatever you are presented with also comes with the opportunity to choose how you respond or react. We are all intertwined and connected. Our actions and words do matter and can positively or negatively impact others, sometimes more than we know.

4. Challenge your mind and body: keep learning and sweating

Never stop learning and connecting to your environment. Our bodies and our minds want us to thrive and be as healthy as we possibly can. They are on our team, not working against us. Our bodies and minds need to be nourished, challenged, and replenished. View anxiety , pain, restlessness, or exhaustion as opportunities to set a boundary or invite something new into your world. They are signals to make adjustments or adapt a viewpoint or behavior.

difficult part of journey

5. Build a positive support network

This year has forced us to take a step back socially and perhaps re-evaluate the types of relationships or exchanges we tend to invite or engage in. What role do you typically play in relationships? Do you find yourself constantly seeking validation from others? Do you tend to feel depleted or re-energized? Aim to surround yourself with people who are active listeners and value relationships that are balanced and non-competitive.

6. Complete small tasks from start to finish

Whether you create daily checklists or schedule reminders to keep yourself focused, remember the power of the process. We build momentum and confidence every time we start something and see it through to completion. This could be as simple as making your bed or washing your face. These simple tasks demonstrate respect for yourself and your environment. The focus and the control required to finish something creates purpose and builds resilience. Perhaps try something completely new like learning another language, listening to a new genre of music, or cooking a dish from a different country every week.

7. Use a keyword, phrase, or song to refocus and reset

We all have experienced what it feels like to be overwhelmed and discouraged. It’s not easy, but try to view these feelings as opportunities to learn and reorganize. Scan your memory and think back to a time when you felt strong, empowered, peaceful, or safe. What was happening? Who was around? What was stimulating your senses? Identify what word or song resonates with these memories. This is now your "reset," your resilience on demand. Use it as a tool to re-ignite and reconnect with the energy it once took to rise up and persevere.

8. Find the positives, practice gratitude

You are not alone if you are currently feeling stressed , depressed , exhausted, or negative. At times, finding the positives can be a challenge. It may require you to "fake it till ya make it." Challenge yourself to smile at least 10 times a day. Of course, these smiles might not be completely genuine, but you are sparking positivity. Smiling actually activates tiny molecules to help fight off stress and even trick your brain into thinking you're happy. Give it a try. What do you have to lose?

9. Focus on what you can control and own

Begin to identify your response patterns and the level to which you internalize. Do you tend to take ownership of other people’s feelings/actions, adjust to avoid conflict, or constantly compromise your needs for the needs of others? In order to change such tendencies, you must first learn to establish healthy boundaries . This step serves as a reminder to acknowledge your feelings and needs that tend to be overshadowed by the intense desire to please and accommodate others.

10. Maintain a healthy lifestyle: rest and restore

Prioritize the basics; set yourself up for a good night’s sleep, drink plenty of water throughout the day, be mindful of what you eat, and move your body. A healthy body and mind create a strong foundation and the resiliency it takes to move forward in life. Currently, people are working longer hours at home than they did in the office. To avoid burnout , you must schedule ample time to relax, disconnect from work, and be present with friends or family. Resilience can only be sustained when you set healthy boundaries and make the time to rejuvenate. Don’t just go through the motions. Truly live life by being deliberate and present.

Embrace the idea that you will not have always have all of the answers, know how to react, or work gracefully through an obstacle. These though are the times when extraordinary growth takes place and we have the opportunity to watch ourselves bounce back and recover.

Resilience is something you earn through practice and consistency. It requires a healthy mindset, time for reflection, and the ability to be present with your feelings.

Remain hungry and truly welcome the adversities and challenges that are sure to come your way.

Leah Marone LCSW

Leah Marone, LCSW , is a psychotherapist who works with teens and adults. She is also a corporate wellness consultant and speaks on performance anxiety, resilience, and mindfulness.

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Home › Uplifting Quotes

150 Uplifting Quotes For Difficult Times

Uplifting Quotes

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Are you facing difficult times? Reading uplifting quotes is a great way to shift your mindset and turn things around.

Setbacks, failures, and tragedies are parts of life we all have to face at some point, but these stretches of difficulty are just moments of time that will soon pass.

If you’re going through a rough time, finding something to give you a little lift can help you remember that life isn’t always bad.

So whatever you’re facing, this list of uplifting quotes for difficult times is here to inspire you and lift you up whenever you need it to.

Page Contents

Top 10 Uplifting Quotes

Storms make trees take deeper roots. Dolly Parton
Gray skies are just clouds passing over. Duke Ellington

Robert Schuller quote "Problems are not stop signs they are guidelines"

We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want. Jim Rohn
A problem is a chance for you to do your best. Duke Ellington
He knows not his own strength who hath not met adversity. William Samuel Johnson

Will Smith quote "The first step is you have to say that you can"

The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail. Nelson Mandela
We have nothing to fear, but fear itself. Franklin D. Roosevelt

Uplifting Quotes and Sayings

Life has a way of kicking us when we’re down, but reading uplifting quotes will help you pick yourself up again. Here are some of the quotes the KIM team uses when they need a pick-me-up.

Whether we manage to find joy in the daily struggle of life and achieve success is largely dependent on our ability to forge through the toughest moments without giving up.

When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. Henry Ford
Most great people have attained their greatest success one step beyond their greatest failure. Napoleon Hill
Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today. Thich Nhat Hanh
Have great hopes and dare to go all out for them. Have great dreams and dare to live them. Have tremendous expectations and believe in them. Norman Vincent Peale
We should always pray for help, but we should always listen for inspiration and impression to proceed in ways different from those we may have thought of. John H. Groberg
Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit down and grieve. Find another way. And don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines. Leroy Satchel Paige
It is only in our darkest hours that we may discover the true strength of the brilliant light within ourselves that can never, ever, be dimmed. Doe Zantamata
Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success. Dale Carnegie

Uplifting Japanese proverb "Fall seven times, stand up eight"

I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars. Og Mandino
Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly. Robert F. Kennnedy
The difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is how you use them. Unknown
Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing. L.M. Montgomery
Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement. Golda Mier
Let perseverance be your engine and hope your fuel. H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Believe you can and you’re halfway there. Teddy Roosevelt
In the middle of a difficulty lies opportunity. Albert Einstein
Nothing I accept about myself can be used against me to diminish me. Audre Lorde
I ask not for a lighter burden, but for broader shoulders. Jewish Proverb
Your dreams don’t have to be lofty; they just have to be lived. Kelly Bouchard
A big part of being a well-adjusted person is accepting that you can’t be good at everything. Kelly Williams Brown

Edmund Hillary quote "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves"

If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere. Frank A. Clark
Just as despair can come to one only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings. Elie Weisel
The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials. Chinese Proverb
Once you choose hope , anything’s possible. Christopher Reeve
Light tomorrow with today. Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Life has no limitations, except the ones you make. Les Brown
The oak sleeps in the acorn. The bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul, a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of reality. Napoleon Hill
Every adversity, every failure and every heartache carries with it the seed of an equivalent or a greater benefit. Napoleon Hill
The question isn’t who’s going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me. Ayn Rand
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. Truman Capote
All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination. Earl Nightingale
Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by an encounter with another human being. Albert Schweitzer

Og Mandino uplifting quote "If I persist long enough I will win"

Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact. William James
If you embrace your flaws, nobody can use them against you. Cara Alwill Leyba
Never give in. Never, never, never. Winston Churchill
Use what you’ve been through as fuel, believe in yourself and be unstoppable! Yvonne Pierre
The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests. Epictetus
The best way to get rid of the pain is to feel the pain. And when you feel the pain and go beyond it, you’ll see there’s a very intense love that is wanting to awaken itself. Deepak Chopra
We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey. Kenji Miyazawa
It’s not exactly like you thought it would be, you think it’s a failure. What about the spectrum of colors in between. Sara Evans
It doesn’t matter how slow you go, as long as you don’t stop. Confucius
If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.  Mary Engelbreit
People who wonder whether the glass is half empty or half full miss the point. The glass is refillable. Simon Sinek
I learned there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead, others come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready, you see. Now my troubles are going to have trouble with me. Dr. Seuss

Uplifting Oprah quote "Turn your wounds into wisdom"

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. John Wooden
You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you. James Allen
In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on. Robert Frost
Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day, saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’ Mary Anne Radmacher
The human capacity for burden is like bamboo – far more flexible than you’d ever believe at first glance. Jodi Picoult
I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it. Maya Angelou
On the other side of a storm is the strength that comes from having navigated through it. Raise your sail and begin. Gregory S. Williams
The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived. Robert Jordan
When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength. Arnold Schwarzenegger
It may sound strange, but many champions are made champions by setbacks. Bob Richards
My barn having burned down, I can now see the moon. Mizuta Masahide
If you’re going through hell, keep going. Winston Churchill

"A good half of the art of living is resilience"

We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. Charles R. Swindoll
Rock bottom became the solid foundation in which I rebuilt my life. J.K. Rowling
When you do not know what you are doing and what you are doing is the best – that is inspiration. Robert Bresson
What helps you persevere is your resilience and commitment. Roy T. Bennett
If your heart is broken, make art with the pieces. Shane Koyczan
Nothing is more beautiful than the smile that has struggled through the tears. Demi Lovato
There is meaning in every journey that is unknown to the traveler. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. Thomas Edison
He who believes is strong; he who doubts is weak. Strong convictions precede great actions. Louisa May Alcott
We are not a product of what has happened to us in our past. We have the power of choice. Stepen Covey
When we learn how to become resilient, we learn how to embrace the beautifully broad spectrum of the human experience. Jaeda Dewalt
Resilience is based on compassion for ourselves as well as compassion for others. Sharon Salzberg

Nietzsche quote "That which does not kill us makes us stronger"

I realized sometimes the worst possible thing isn’t really that bad. Ben Shenkman, Billions
Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy. Leo Buscaglia

Hard Times Quotes

Everyone faces hard times, but it’s how we respond to them tat makes us who we are.

There are many different ways to react to hard times , and learning how to respond to difficulties is a key to better living.

These quotes are here to lift you up when things get hard so you can find a way to make them easier again.

Hard times may have held you down, but they will not last forever. When all is said and done, you will be increased. Joel Osteen
Hard times are sometimes blessings in disguise. We do have to suffer but in the end it makes us strong, better and wise. Anurag Prakash Ray
The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity. Seneca
Prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them. Publilius Syrus
Hard times arouse an instinctive desire for authenticity. Coco Chanel
And hard times are good in their own way, too. Because the only way you can achieve true happiness is if you experience true sadness as well. It’s all about light and shade. Balance. Gabrielle Williams
Hard times are like thunder. They make a lot of noise but do little harm. Don’t fear hard times. Debasish Mridha
Hard times lifts the seeking souls to higher spiritual realms. Lailah Gifty Akita
The hard times that you go through build character, making you a much stronger person. Rita Mero

Betsy Johnson quote "Hard times always lead to something great."

The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity. Ulysses S. Grant
Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it. Helen Keller
In times of great stress or adversity, it’s always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive. Lee Iacocca
Prosperity is not without many fears and disasters; and adversity is not without comforts and hopes. Francis Bacon
Hard times build determination and inner strength. Through them we can also come to appreciate the uselessness of anger. Dalai Lama
Persistence and resilience only come from having been given the chance to work through difficult problems. Gever Tulley
It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop. Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Michael Jordan
Confidence, courage and determined spirit are vital for surviving hard times. Lailah Gifty Akita
Man is fond of counting his troubles but he does not count his joys. If he counted them up, as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it. Fyodor Dostoevsky
Defeat is simply a signal to press onward. Helen Keller
Rise above the storm and you will find the sunshine. Mario Fernandez

"If there is no struggle, there is no progress"

When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this – you haven’t. Thomas Edison
Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you. Ovid
You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it. Margaret Thatcher
I walk slowly, but I never walk backward. Abraham Lincoln
You’ll have bad times, but it’ll always wake you up to the good stuff you weren’t paying attention to. Robin Williams
Hard times may have held you down, but they will not last forever. When all is said and done, you will be increased. Ernest Hemingway
The best is yet to be. Robert Browning
Bad decisions make good stories. Ellis Vidler
There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly. Buckminster Fuller
A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him. David Brinkley

Tough Times Quotes

If you’re dealing with tough times and quotes don’t seem like enough, also see our guide to the 6 Kinds of Adversity and how to overcome them.

When the going gets tough – the tough get going! Joe Kennedy
Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny. C. S. Lewis
To succeed, you have to do something and be very bad at it for a while. You have to look bad before you can look really good. Barbara DeAngelis

Robert Schuller uplifting quote "Tough times never last, but tough people do"

We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand. Randy Pausch
Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will. Mahatma Gandhi
All of life is a test and we all have our challenges to meet. Marjory Sheba
Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create. Roy T. Bennett
Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before, how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way, and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever. Zahid Abas
When things are bad, we take comfort in the thought that they could always get worse. And when they are, we find hope in the thought that things are so bad they have to get better. Malcolm S. Forbes
When it is dark enough, you can see the stars. Ralph Waldo Emerson
The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any. Alice Walker
If Plan A doesn’t work, the alphabet has 25 more letters. Claire Cook
Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars. Khalil Gibran
When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. Franklin D. Roosevelt
Some roses grow through concrete. Remember that. Brandi L. Bates

"A diamond is a chunk of coal that did well under pressure"

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. Carl Bard
Only a man who has felt ultimate despair is capable of feeling ultimate bliss. Alexandre Dumas
Remember that just because you hit bottom doesn’t mean you have to stay there. Robert Downey, Jr.
We must meet the challenge rather than wish it were not before us. William J. Brennan, Jr
Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict. William Ellery Channing
If everything seems under control, you’re not going fast enough. Mario Andretti
All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me…. You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you. Walt Disney
Going through challenging things can teach you a lot, and they also make you appreciate the times that aren’t so challenging. Carrie Fisher
Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. Robert Louis Stevenson
What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise. Oscar Wilde
Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging. Joseph Campbell

We hope these uplifting quotes give you build the resilience you need to face life’s challenges and hardships.

There’s nothing wrong with needing a little lift from time to time. The hard times won’t be hard forever, and the sun shines again after even the biggest storms.

So keep your head up and get ready to enjoy better times on the other side of the difficult ones. It’s never too late to pick yourself up or uplift someone else who needs it.

Photo of author

Quincy Seale

19 thoughts on “150 Uplifting Quotes For Difficult Times”

My soul has been blessed ,,, the quotes are inspiring and life touching . May God bless you guys …. keep giving us more

You said it Lexi! You said it perfectly:)

“I’m not prepared to give up just yet.”

Thank you! It’s very helpful for me to read this kind of inspiring quotes ..it’s serves me as a fuel to start a new day and to don’t stop believing that all things would be fine

This has helped me a lot. Thank you

Awesome quotable quotes. Very inspiring, comforting and empowering.

I really enjoy these short quotes… there are uplifting to the mind and soul

It’s an urge to be told everyone has felt it “Don’t you quit, keep going keep moving God is with you

These quotes give strength to the weak and power to the powerless

Thanks for all these wonderful quotes. Over years I’ve compiled a great number of quotes, humorous and serious, dealing with success and achievement, religion and philosophy, and many other topics. It’s wonderful to reflect on the wonderful thoughts of others. If I may add one of my own: I firmly believe almost anyone can achieve great things, physically or intellectually. It may take longer than for another individual, or may require greater effort, but it can still be accomplished. –Bill Zappa

The darkest part of the night come before the dawn I remember who side it so author Unknown .

Quotes are daily source of motivation. One who have a habit to read them, always find a great wisdom from a single line quores. Personally read this quote by Thomas Edison when feeling like a looser-“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

These quotes are dead on when it comes to life’s fickle moods. I’ve been knocked down and kicked over and over and always find comfort in quotes.

If you’re having a bad day. Like for kids if they have a test coming up & didn’t do well. One of there friends might say this idom There is always a silver lining. Or for adults they got a ticket but before you know it you might win a lottery ticket or you might find a 20 dollar bill. I always liked this idol & when I was in school it helped me. Maybe I had a bad day & I couldn’t wait to see my mom & get my favorite drink. Or maybe I had a tough day but in between classes there might be a bake sale & I would treat myself which made me happy but I also knew I was helping them to which made me happy. Thanks to my speech teacher from school & it makes life easier for me to handle & made me ?.

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. Charles Spurgeon

You’re never without hope as long as you believe that every dream lost a new one will take it’s place, for every problem a solution will a rise, like an angle watching over us, helps seems to materialize when you need it the most.

It may not always come exactly when you want it, but when it comes, it comes right on time.

I don’t believe in mistakes, it’s God way of telling you you’re going in the wrong direction.

Beautiful inspiring words Never give up and chase that dream, and I will

I really felt better after reading such uplifting words.Truly life goes on forward not backward change belongs to present and future not the past.

Don’t wait for your ship to come in, swim out to it.

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Overcoming Obstacles: 25 Hardest Things to Do in Life Explored

25 Hardest Things to Do in Life

Life is full of challenges, and some are more difficult than others. While some obstacles can be easily overcome, others require significant effort and resilience. In this article, we will explore the 25 hardest things to do in life and delve into the challenges they present. From facing personal obstacles to conquering adversity, we will provide insights on how to overcome these difficult life experiences .

Whether it’s losing a loved one , overcoming addiction , or pursuing a dream , life can be full of challenging tasks. But with the right mindset and strategies, we can navigate through life’s toughest challenges and emerge stronger and more resilient.

  • The 25 hardest things to do in life can be daunting, but they offer opportunities for personal growth and resilience.
  • Challenging life tasks such as losing a loved one , overcoming addiction , and pursuing a dream require effort and resilience.
  • With the right mindset and strategies, we can navigate through life’s toughest challenges and emerge stronger and more resilient.
  • It’s important to acknowledge and embrace the difficult tasks in life to empower ourselves to transform adversity into opportunity.

Life presents a variety of challenges, and what may be considered the “hardest” things to do can vary greatly from person to person. However, here are 25 difficult tasks or challenges that many people may encounter in their lives:

  • Facing your fears: Confronting and overcoming your deepest fears can be one of the most challenging things to do.
  • Grieving the loss of a loved one: Coping with the death of a family member or close friend is emotionally and mentally draining.
  • Ending a toxic relationship: Recognizing and leaving an unhealthy or abusive relationship can be incredibly difficult.
  • Forgiving someone who has hurt you: Letting go of resentment and forgiving someone who has wronged you can be a long and challenging process.
  • Overcoming addiction: Breaking free from substance abuse or other addictive behaviors is a complex and ongoing battle.
  • Battling mental health issues: Managing conditions like depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder can be a lifelong struggle.
  • Dealing with a serious illness: Coping with a severe medical diagnosis can be physically and emotionally taxing.
  • Pursuing a dream or passion: Achieving your long-term goals often requires perseverance and overcoming numerous obstacles.
  • Changing a deeply ingrained habit: Breaking habits like smoking, overeating, or procrastination can be extremely challenging.
  • Parenting: Raising children is a lifelong commitment that comes with numerous difficulties and responsibilities.
  • Rebuilding trust after a betrayal: Restoring trust in a relationship after it has been broken can be an arduous process.
  • Finding a life purpose: Discovering what truly fulfills you and gives your life meaning can be a lifelong journey.
  • Taking financial risks: Starting a business or investing in a new venture can be financially and emotionally demanding.
  • Moving to a new country or culture: Adapting to a new environment and culture can be a significant challenge.
  • Maintaining a long-distance relationship: Sustaining a loving relationship when separated by distance can be emotionally taxing.
  • Admitting when you’re wrong: Swallowing your pride and apologizing or admitting your mistakes can be difficult.
  • Balancing work and personal life: Achieving a healthy work-life balance can be a constant struggle.
  • Public speaking: Overcoming the fear of public speaking can be a daunting task for many.
  • Accepting the aging process: Coming to terms with the physical and emotional changes that come with getting older can be challenging.
  • Defending your beliefs in the face of opposition: Staying true to your principles and convictions, even in the face of criticism, can be tough.
  • Recovering from a traumatic experience: Overcoming the effects of trauma and finding a way to heal can be a lifelong process.
  • Giving up a bad habit: Quitting smoking, excessive drinking, or other harmful habits can be incredibly difficult.
  • Rebuilding after a major setback: Bouncing back after financial ruin, divorce, or a career setback can be a monumental challenge.
  • Navigating a difficult legal situation: Dealing with lawsuits, legal disputes, or criminal charges can be mentally and financially draining.
  • Embracing change and uncertainty: Adapting to life’s constant changes and facing an uncertain future can be a lifelong challenge.

Remember that what’s challenging for one person may not be as difficult for another, and different life circumstances can make these challenges more or less daunting. However, facing these challenges with resilience, support, and determination can lead to personal growth and development.

Losing a Loved One

Losing a loved one is undoubtedly one of the hardest things to endure in life. The pain and grief we experience can be overwhelming, and it can be challenging to find a way to move forward. However, it’s essential to remember that we are not alone in our suffering, and there are steps we can take to help us navigate through this difficult time.

One way to overcome the adversity of losing a loved one is to transform our grief into an opportunity for personal growth. It’s natural to feel lost and unsure of how to move forward, but by taking small steps towards self-care and healing, we can begin to rebuild our lives.

Finding Support

During this time, it’s crucial to seek support from family, friends, or a support group. Talking to others who have experienced a similar loss can help us feel less alone and provide a safe space to share our thoughts and emotions.

Alternatively, speaking with a therapist can also be a useful way to navigate through our grief and find ways to manage our emotions.

Embracing Memories

It’s easy to feel like we should forget our loved one or move on quickly, but it’s important to remember that it’s okay to hold onto memories and honor their legacy. Embracing memories through a special keepsake or memory book can be a therapeutic way to keep their memory alive.

Helping Others

Finally, helping others experiencing a similar loss can be a powerful way to transform our grief into something positive. Whether it’s volunteering with a local charity or simply reaching out to someone who needs support, helping others can provide us with a sense of purpose and help us heal.

Remember, losing a loved one is one of the most challenging experiences we can face, but with the right mindset and support, we can overcome adversity and transform our grief into an opportunity for personal growth.

Losing a Loved One

Conquering personal obstacles and navigating through life’s greatest challenges is no easy feat, but overcoming addiction may just be one of the hardest. Addiction can consume a person’s life, leaving them feeling helpless and trapped. However, with the right strategies, breaking free from addiction and reclaiming control over one’s life is possible.

The first step in overcoming addiction is acknowledging that there is a problem. This can be difficult, as addiction often comes with denial and a sense of shame. However, by admitting that there is a problem, individuals can begin the journey towards recovery. Seeking professional help and support from loved ones can also be crucial in overcoming addiction.

It’s important to understand that addiction is a disease, and recovery is a process. Consistency is key in maintaining sobriety, and it’s important to have a strong support system in place. Surrounding oneself with positive influences and finding healthy outlets for stress and negative emotions can also aid in the recovery process.

overcoming addiction

Overcoming addiction may be a difficult challenge, but it is possible. By conquering personal obstacles and navigating through life’s greatest challenges , individuals can break free from addiction and reclaim control over their lives. With the right mindset and strategies, recovery is within reach.

Facing a Serious Illness

Facing a serious illness can be one of life’s toughest challenges. It can test our physical and emotional resilience, leaving us feeling vulnerable and uncertain about the future. But it’s important to remember that we have the power to push the limits of personal growth and find strength in the face of adversity.

It’s normal to experience a range of emotions when dealing with a serious illness, from fear and anxiety to anger and sadness. One of the best ways to handle these feelings is to talk to someone you trust, whether it’s a friend, family member, or healthcare provider.

Another important aspect of facing a serious illness is staying informed about your condition. This can help you make more informed decisions about your health and treatment options.

It’s also important to take care of yourself both physically and mentally. This may involve getting enough rest, eating a healthy diet, and engaging in activities that bring you joy.

Remember, facing a serious illness is not a journey you have to go through alone. Seek the support of loved ones and healthcare professionals, and push yourself to find the courage and strength within to push through this difficult time.

Facing a Serious Illness

Forgiving someone who has hurt you deeply is one of the hardest things to do in life. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or significant other, the pain of betrayal can linger for years. But holding onto anger and resentment only harms us in the long run. Forgiveness is not about excusing or forgetting what someone has done, but rather finding a way to move forward and heal.

By forgiving , we can overcome adversity and transform it into an opportunity for personal growth. Studies have shown that forgiveness can lead to decreased stress levels, stronger relationships, and better overall health.

But forgiveness is not always easy. It requires empathy, patience, and a willingness to let go of the past. Here are some tips for embracing forgiveness:

  • Practice empathy: Try to understand the perspective of the person who hurt you. Recognize that they too may be struggling with their own pain and insecurities.
  • Take time to heal: Forgiveness is a process, and it’s important to give yourself time to work through your own emotions before attempting to forgive.
  • Speak your truth: Express how the person’s actions made you feel. Be honest and direct, but avoid attacking or blaming language.
  • Let go of resentment: Holding onto anger only harms us in the long run. Practice mindfulness and meditation to let go of negative thoughts and feelings.
  • Commit to forgiveness: Forgiveness is a choice. Choose to let go of the past and move forward towards healing and growth.

Forgiveness is not easy, but it is worth it. By letting go of anger and resentment, we can transform adversity into an opportunity for personal growth and healing. As Nelson Mandela once said, “Forgiveness liberates the soul. It removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon.”

forgiving

Offering a genuine apology can be a challenging task, requiring sincerity, humility, and courage. Whether we have hurt someone we care about or made a mistake at work, apologizing is a crucial step in repairing relationships and taking accountability for our actions. However, apologizing can also be a way to conquer personal obstacles and navigate through life’s greatest challenges.

When we apologize, we acknowledge our mistakes and take responsibility for them. This act of vulnerability can be uncomfortable, but it also allows for growth and learning. By owning up to our mistakes, we show that we are willing to learn from them and take steps to avoid making the same ones in the future.

One important aspect of apologizing is being specific about what we are apologizing for. Rather than giving a vague apology, it is essential to acknowledge the hurt we caused and explain how we plan to make things right. This shows that we understand the impact of our actions and are committed to making amends.

It’s also important to listen to the person we are apologizing to and recognize their feelings. Even if we did not intend to hurt them, acknowledging their emotions shows that we value their perspective and are committed to repairing the relationship.

Ultimately, apologizing is a way to conquer personal obstacles and navigate through life’s challenges. It requires vulnerability, introspection, and the willingness to learn from our mistakes. By apologizing sincerely and taking steps to make things right, we can repair relationships, grow as individuals, and navigate through life’s challenges with grace and humility.

Apologizing

Mending a broken relationship can be one of life’s toughest challenges. Whether it’s a romantic partner, family member, or friend, healing a fractured relationship takes effort and time. However, it’s important to remember that it’s possible to transform adversity into opportunity and create positive change.

One of the first steps in mending a relationship is to take responsibility for your actions. Acknowledge any mistakes you may have made and apologize sincerely. It may not be easy, but owning up to your part in the conflict can help to open the lines of communication.

It’s also important to be patient and understanding. Healing takes time, and both parties may need space and time to process their feelings. Avoid placing blame or becoming defensive, and instead, focus on listening actively and empathetically.

Transforming adversity into opportunity is essential for personal growth and building stronger relationships. By learning from past conflicts and working towards a resolution, both parties can move forward with a deeper understanding of themselves and each other.

Mending a Broken Relationship

Remember, mending a broken relationship takes effort and commitment, but it is possible. By handling life’s toughest challenges with patience, empathy, and understanding, we can transform adversity into opportunity and create positive change.

Starting Over

Starting over can be one of life’s toughest challenges. Whether it’s due to a major life change or a significant setback, it can be daunting to leave behind what we’ve known and begin anew. But it’s important to remember that starting over can also be a powerful opportunity for personal growth and reinvention.

When starting over , it’s important to focus on conquering personal obstacles and pushing the limits of personal growth . This means taking a hard look at ourselves and our habits, and making the necessary changes to become the best version of ourselves.

One of the keys to successfully starting over is to have a clear plan. This means setting achievable goals and creating a roadmap for how to achieve them. It’s important to stay organized and focused, and to celebrate the small victories along the way.

Remember, starting over can be a difficult journey, but it’s one that is worth taking. By embracing new beginnings and challenging ourselves to grow, we can create a fulfilling future. So take the leap, and see where starting over can take you.

Starting Over

Changing Careers

Changing careers can be overwhelming, but the rewards can be significant. Whether you’re feeling unfulfilled in your current job or you’re looking for a new challenge, navigating through life’s greatest challenges requires courage and determination. Transforming adversity into opportunity , you can use this transition period to discover what truly makes you happy and fulfilled.

Start by reflecting on your values and what matters most to you. Consider seeking out career counseling or taking personality tests to help discover your strengths and interests. From there, research different industries and job opportunities that align with your goals and passions.

Navigating through life’s greatest challenges means taking risks, but it’s important to have a solid plan in place. Consider networking with professionals in your desired field, taking relevant courses or certifications, and updating your resume and cover letter accordingly.

Transforming adversity into opportunity , changing careers can be a positive and empowering experience. By embracing the challenge and staying focused on your goals, you can navigate through this transition period and find a fulfilling career path.

Changing Careers

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” – Steve Jobs

Dealing with Rejection

Rejection is a natural part of life and can be emotionally challenging. Whether it’s a job application, a relationship, or any other situation, rejection can cause feelings of disappointment, self-doubt, and sadness. However, it’s important to remember that rejection does not define you or your worth as a person. It’s just a part of life’s toughest challenges.

To conquer personal obstacles and handle rejection, it’s important to maintain a positive mindset. Instead of dwelling on the negative aspects of rejection, try to reframe it as an opportunity for growth. Use rejection as a chance to reflect on your goals and values, and consider how you can improve yourself going forward. Remember that every rejection brings you one step closer to success.

Another important strategy for handling rejection is to practice self-care. Make time for activities that bring you joy and help you relax. Surround yourself with positive people who support and encourage you. These practices can provide a sense of comfort and stability during difficult times.

Finally, it’s important to stay resilient and persistent. Don’t let rejection discourage you from pursuing your goals. Learn from each experience and use that knowledge to improve your approach. Keep pushing forward and stay committed to your aspirations.

Dealing with Rejection

Remember, handling life’s toughest challenges means conquering personal obstacles, including rejection. By maintaining a positive mindset, practicing self-care, and staying resilient, you can navigate through rejection and emerge stronger and more determined than ever before.

Parenting: Overcoming Adversity and Pushing the Limits of Personal Growth

Parenting is one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in life. It requires constant adaptation and overcoming adversity . From sleepless nights to teenage rebellion, being a parent is not easy. However, it is also an opportunity for personal growth and pushing the limits of what we think is possible.

One of the biggest obstacles in parenting is dealing with the unexpected. From illnesses to accidents, parents must be prepared to handle anything that comes their way. Overcoming these challenges requires resilience and a willingness to seek help when necessary. It is okay to ask for support from family, friends, or professionals when needed.

Another hurdle in parenting is finding the balance between providing structure and allowing freedom. It can be difficult to know when to set boundaries and when to let children make their own choices. However, learning to navigate this balance is crucial for fostering independence and self-confidence.

Lastly, parenting is an opportunity for personal growth and pushing the limits of what we think is possible. It requires us to be patient, empathetic, and understanding, even when it’s challenging. By approaching parenting with an open mind and a willingness to learn, we can become better parents and better people overall.

Parenting

Overall, parenting is a journey of overcoming adversity and pushing the limits of personal growth . It is a chance to learn about ourselves and our children, and to become the best versions of ourselves. By embracing the challenges of parenting, we can create a stronger and more compassionate world for ourselves and our children.

Bouncing Back from Failure

Failure is a natural part of life, and it can be discouraging and overwhelming. However, it is important to remember that failure is not the end; it is an opportunity to learn and grow. By bouncing back from failure , we can transform adversity into opportunity and conquer personal obstacles.

One key to bouncing back from failure is to assess the situation honestly and take responsibility for any mistakes that were made. This allows us to learn from our failures and avoid making the same mistakes in the future. It is also important to maintain a growth mindset and view failure as an opportunity for improvement.

Another strategy for bouncing back from failure is to seek support from others. This can include family, friends, or mental health professionals who can provide guidance and encouragement. It is also important to acknowledge and celebrate small successes along the way, as this can help build momentum and confidence.

Remember, failure does not define us. Instead, it can serve as a powerful motivator for personal growth and transformation. By bouncing back from failure, we can strengthen our resilience, overcome obstacles, and ultimately find success.

Bouncing Back from Failure image

Pursuing a dream is one of life’s greatest challenges, but also one of the most rewarding experiences. Whether it’s starting a business, writing a book, or pursuing a passion, the journey towards achieving a dream can be filled with obstacles and require perseverance.

Navigating through life’s toughest challenges requires a mindset of growth and determination. It’s important to establish clear goals, create a plan of action, and stay committed to the process. Pushing the limits of personal growth means stepping outside of one’s comfort zone and embracing uncertainty. It’s important to remember that failure is a natural part of the process and should be seen as an opportunity for learning and growth.

When pursuing a dream, it’s important to surround oneself with a supportive community. Seek out mentors, join groups of like-minded individuals, and build a network of people who can offer guidance and encouragement along the way. Being part of a supportive community can provide motivation and accountability, and help navigate through the ups and downs of the journey towards achieving a dream.

Remember that pursuing a dream is a fulfilling and worthwhile endeavor. It requires resilience, hard work, and a willingness to learn and grow. Keep pushing towards the goal, embracing challenges as opportunities, and celebrating the small victories along the way. With dedication and perseverance, anything is possible.

Pursuing a Dream

Being vulnerable is one of the hardest things to do in life. It requires opening up and exposing our true selves, which can be scary and uncomfortable. But vulnerability is also necessary for personal growth and building meaningful connections with others.

Handling life’s toughest challenges often requires confronting our fears and insecurities. By acknowledging our vulnerabilities, we can start to conquer personal obstacles and find strength in our weaknesses.

“Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness.”

– Brene Brown

When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we create space for honest communication and emotional intimacy. This can lead to deeper connections with loved ones and a greater sense of fulfillment in life.

Being Vulnerable

So take a deep breath and embrace vulnerability. It may be uncomfortable at first, but the rewards are worth it. By facing our fears and opening up to others, we can conquer personal challenges and find true happiness.

Taking Responsibility

Taking responsibility for our actions is a crucial step towards personal growth. It means acknowledging the consequences of our choices and actions, whether good or bad. It’s easy to blame others or external circumstances, but true growth comes from owning our mistakes and learning from them.

Transforming adversity into opportunity often requires taking responsibility . When we take ownership of our mistakes, we can make amends and turn negative experiences into positive ones. By doing so, we push the limits of personal growth and become better versions of ourselves.

It’s important to remember that taking responsibility doesn’t mean beating ourselves up over our mistakes. Instead, it’s about accepting them and moving forward with a newfound sense of clarity and purpose. By doing so, we empower ourselves to create a fulfilling and meaningful life.

In conclusion, taking responsibility is a powerful tool for transforming adversity into opportunity and pushing the limits of personal growth. By owning our mistakes and learning from them, we become better equipped to navigate life’s toughest challenges.

Taking Responsibility

One of life’s toughest challenges is achieving a healthy work-life balance. With the demands of work and personal life, it can be difficult to prioritize self-care and find time for relaxation and hobbies. However, with the right strategies, it is possible to overcome this obstacle and find balance.

One important step in balancing work and life is setting boundaries. This may mean establishing work hours and sticking to them, or turning off work notifications outside of these hours. It is also important to prioritize self-care and make time for activities that bring joy and relaxation.

Another strategy is to practice time management skills, such as creating a schedule and prioritizing tasks. This can help reduce stress and increase productivity, allowing for more time for personal life outside of work. Additionally, seeking support from colleagues, friends, and family can provide a valuable network of encouragement and assistance.

Overcoming adversity in balancing work and life requires patience and perseverance. However, by prioritizing self-care, practicing time management, and seeking support, it is possible to find harmony and fulfillment in both professional and personal life.

Balancing Work and Life

In conclusion, life is full of difficult challenges that can leave us feeling lonely, stressed, regretful, and even facing our own mortality. However, by being honest with ourselves and embracing these challenges, we can find personal growth and fulfillment.

Coping with Loneliness

Feeling lonely can be a challenge, but there are ways to cope. Reach out to friends and family, join groups or clubs, or volunteer in your community. Focusing on helping others can also help alleviate loneliness.

Managing Stress

Stress can be overwhelming, but it’s important to find ways to manage it. Exercise, meditation, and deep breathing techniques can help reduce stress levels. Prioritizing self-care and setting boundaries can also help.

Being Honest with Oneself

Being honest with ourselves can be difficult, but it’s important for personal growth. Take time for self-reflection and identify areas for improvement. Seek feedback from trusted friends and mentors to gain a different perspective.

Facing Mortality

Facing mortality can be scary, but it can also be an opportunity to appreciate life and make the most of the time we have. Prioritize relationships and experiences that bring joy and fulfillment.

Dealing with Regret

Regret can be a heavy burden, but it’s important to forgive ourselves and learn from our mistakes. Focus on taking action in the present moment and creating a better future. Seek support from friends, family, or a therapist if needed.

What are the 25 hardest things to do in life?

In this article, we explore the 25 hardest things to do in life , including overcoming obstacles, facing personal challenges, and navigating through difficult experiences.

How can I navigate through the grief of losing a loved one?

Losing a loved one is incredibly difficult. We will discuss ways to navigate through grief, find support, and use this experience as an opportunity for personal growth.

What strategies can help me overcome addiction?

Overcoming addiction can be a challenging journey. We will provide strategies for breaking free from addiction, seeking help, and reclaiming control over your life.

How can I cope with facing a serious illness?

Dealing with a serious illness can be emotionally and physically challenging. We will explore ways to cope with the challenges, find support, and focus on personal healing and growth.

Why is forgiveness so difficult, and how can I let go of anger and resentment?

Forgiving someone who has hurt us can be incredibly difficult. We will discuss the benefits of forgiveness and provide guidance on how to let go of anger and resentment for personal growth and healing.

How can I effectively offer a sincere apology?

Offering a sincere apology requires humility and courage. We will explore the importance of apologizing, provide tips on effective communication of remorse, and fostering understanding and reconciliation.

What steps can I take to mend a broken relationship?

Rebuilding a broken relationship takes time and effort. We will discuss ways to mend relationships, foster healing, and create a stronger and more positive connection.

How can I embrace starting over in life?

Starting over can be daunting, but it can also be an opportunity for growth and creating a fulfilling future. We will provide guidance on embracing new beginnings and moving forward with confidence.

What are the steps to successfully changing careers?

Switching careers can be a difficult decision. We will explore the steps to successfully transition to a new career path, find fulfillment, and navigate through the challenges of change.

How can I cope with rejection and maintain a positive mindset?

Dealing with rejection can be emotionally challenging. We will provide strategies for coping with rejection, maintaining resilience, and fostering a positive mindset in the face of adversity.

What are effective parenting strategies for navigating the challenges of raising children?

Parenting is a rewarding yet challenging journey. We will discuss effective parenting strategies, provide tips for navigating the ups and downs, and fostering healthy relationships with children.

How can I bounce back from failure and find success?

Failure is a natural part of life. We will provide insights on how to bounce back from failure, learn from setbacks, and ultimately find success by transforming adversity into opportunity.

What steps can I take to pursue my dream?

Chasing a dream can be intimidating and challenging. We will discuss ways to overcome obstacles, stay motivated, and take steps towards turning your dreams into reality.

Why is being vulnerable so difficult, and how can I embrace it?

Opening up and being vulnerable can be incredibly difficult. We will explore the benefits of vulnerability and provide tips on how to embrace vulnerability for personal growth and stronger connections with others.

How can I take responsibility for my actions and mistakes?

Taking responsibility for one’s actions is an essential aspect of personal growth. We will discuss the power of accountability and provide guidance on how to take ownership of mistakes, learn from them, and grow as an individual.

What strategies can I use to achieve a healthy work-life balance?

Achieving a healthy work-life balance can be challenging. We will explore strategies for prioritizing self-care, managing stress , and finding harmony between work and personal life for overall well-being and fulfillment.

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Baron Cooke has been writing and editing for 7 years. He grew up with an aptitude for geometry, statistics, and dimensions. He has a BA in construction management and also has studied civil infrastructure, engineering, and measurements. He is the head writer of measuringknowhow.com

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Happier Human

51 Meaningful Quotes About How Life is a Journey

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They say that life is about the journey and not the destination. But what does that really mean?

You’ve probably heard this line a million times before, but maybe you couldn’t quite understand what it was trying to illustrate. 

The most successful people will tell you that the process of accomplishing something is far more valuable than the end result. You learn much more from all of your experiences and encounters than you do from arriving at the destination.

Ultimately, the process is the greatest reward. The sweetest moments come when you realize that you have attained the final goal because of everything you have experienced.

You look back on the mistakes, the challenges, and everything you had to endure—but you also celebrate the fact that you faced your problems head-on. Your journey through life is what makes you human.

In this article, we share with you a list of quotes about how life is a journey . We hope that, through these words, you’ll be able to enjoy everything that life has to offer. Even more so, we hope that they will inspire you to live a more meaningful and happier life .

But before we check out our list, let’s discuss how reading these quotes can get you motivated.

Table of Contents

Why Read Quotes About How Life Is a Journey?

Reading these quotes can inspire you to live a better and more fulfilling life.

They are, after all, from people who have found their journeys through life enjoyable and gratifying. There’s no better way to motivate yourself than to get inspiration from people who have already lived wonderful lives.

In the same vein, these quotes can help you appreciate the gift of life. They help you realize that you only live once, so you must relish the moments you have been given.

Finally, reading these quotes can encourage you to share your life with others. You will realize that, in order to be able to live your life to the fullest, you need someone to share both your joys and sorrows with. You require companions to fully live in the moment .

Now that you know why it’s important to read journey quotes, let us check out our list!

Meaningful Life is a Journey Quotes

  • “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl. But by all means, keep moving.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • “Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
  • “The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.” – Tony Robbins
  • “The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance, and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.” – Oprah Winfrey
  • “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
  • “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” – Heraclitus
  • “Not I, nor anyone else can travel that road for you. You must travel it by yourself. It is not far. It is within reach. Perhaps you have been on it since you were born, and did not know. Perhaps it is everywhere – on water and land.” – Walt Whitman
  • “The most important reason for going from one place to another is to see what's in between, and they took great pleasure in doing just that.” – Norton Juster
  • “The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday.” – Steve Maraboli

difficult part of journey

  • “Some beautiful paths can't be discovered without getting lost.” – Erol Ozan
  • “For me, becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn’t end.” – Michelle Obama
  • “I am no longer afraid of becoming lost because the journey back always reveals something new, and that is ultimately good for the artist.” – Billy Joel
  • “Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.” – Pat Conroy
  • “Never stop just because you feel defeated. The journey to the other side is attainable only after great suffering.” – Santosh Kalwar
  • “There is a strange comfort in knowing that no matter what happens today, the Sun will rise again tomorrow.” – Aaron Lauritsen
  • “Sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination.” – Drake
  • “ Transformation is a process , and as life happens there are tons of ups and downs. It’s a journey of discovery – there are moments on mountaintops and moments in deep valleys of despair.” – Rick Warren
  • “The journey is never-ending. There’s always gonna be growth, improvement, and adversity; you just gotta take it all in and do what’s right, continue to grow, continue to live in the moment.” – Antonio Brown
  • “Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” – Greg Anderson
  • “On your journey, don’t forget to smell the flowers. Take time out to notice that you are alive. You can only live one day.” – Ray Fearon

difficult part of journey

  • “If my ship sails from sight, it doesn’t mean my journey ends. It simply means the river bends.” – Enoch Powell
  • “It’s not an easy journey, to get to a place where you forgive people. But it is such a powerful place because it frees you.” – Tyler Perry
  • “Aim for the sky, but move slowly, enjoying every step along the way. It is all those little steps that make the journey complete.” – Chanda Kochhar
  • “Sometimes we make the process more complicated than we need to. We will never make a journey of a thousand miles by fretting about how long it will take or how hard it will be. We make the journey by taking each day step by step and then repeating it again and again until we reach our destination.” – Joseph B. Wirthlin
  • “Your journey never ends. Life has a way of changing things in incredible ways.” – Alexander Volkov
  • “Each one of us has our own evolution of life, and each one of us goes through different tests which are unique and challenging. But certain things are common. And we do learn things from each other's experiences. On a spiritual journey, we all have the same destination.” – A. R. Rahman
  • “Going by my past journey, I am not certain where life will take me, what turns and twists will happen; nobody knows where they will end up. As life changes direction, I'll flow with it.” – Katrina Kaif
  • “Enjoy the journey and try to get better every day. And don't lose the passion and the love for what you do.” – Nadia Comaneci

“Enjoy the journey and try to get better every day. And don't lose the passion and the love for what you do.” – Nadia Comaneci | end of journey quotes | everyday is a journey quotes

  • “But it's a journey and the sad thing is you only learn from experience, so as much as someone can tell you things, you have to go out there and make your own mistakes in order to learn.” – Emma Watson
  • “The seeker embarks on a journey to find what he wants and discovers, along the way, what he needs.” – Wally Lamb
  • “Life is a journey that must be traveled no matter how bad the roads and accommodations.” – Oliver Goldsmith
  • “The Sun will rise and set regardless. What we choose to do with the light while it's here is up to us. Journey wisely.” – Alexandra Elle
  • “We may run, walk, stumble. drive, or fly, but let us never lose sight of the reason for the journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way.” – Gloria Gaither
  • “Whole life is a search for beauty. But, when the beauty is found inside, the search ends and a beautiful journey begins.” – Harshit Walia
  • “Not everyone will understand your journey. That's okay. You're here to live your life, not to make everyone understand .” – Banksy
  • “I believe that life is a journey, often difficult and sometimes incredibly cruel, but we are well equipped for it if only we tap into our talents and gifts and allow them to blossom.” – Les Brown
  • “It was being a runner that mattered, not how fast or how far I could run. The joy was in the act of running and in the journey, not in the destination.” – John Bingham
  • “As you journey down the path, don't forget to be present moment-by-moment and absorb the beauty and richness of simply being alive.” – Cary David Richards
  • “If all difficulties were known at the outset of a long journey, most of us would never start out at all.” – Dan Rather

“If all difficulties were known at the outset of a long journey, most of us would never start out at all.” – Dan Rather | trust the journey quotes | travel journey quotes

  • “Life is a journey of either Fate or Destiny. Fate is the result of giving in to one's wounds and heartaches. Your Destiny unfolds when you rise above the challenges of your life and use them as Divine opportunities to move forward to unlock your higher potential.” – Caroline Myss
  • “I know it can be tough to imagine how to get from where you are today to where you want to be tomorrow. But I’m here to tell you that change is possible if you enter into this journey with your eyes wide open, and with real intention.” – David Hauser
  • “Part of the challenge that comes with striving for success is how the entire journey comes with its own fair share of failures and disappointments.” – Rupert Johnson
  • “The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment. That's all there ever is.” – Alan Watts
  • “Life is a journey and it's about growing and changing and coming to terms with who and what you are and loving who and what you are.” – Kelly McGillis
  • “Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived.” – Captain Jean-Luc Picard
  • “I just constantly tell myself that I should be the only one to define my worth and what I'm capable of and how I perceive myself. And that I should never source that worth from other people, especially strangers on social media. They don't know who I am, the length of my journey, who I am as a person.” – Catriona Gray
  • “ You have learned a lot, but there are still lots of learning for you as you journey through life. Never stop learning.” – Kate Summers

difficult part of journey

  • “One of the most important things that I have learned in my 57 years is that life is all about choices. On every journey you take, you face choices. At every fork in the road, you make a choice. And it is those decisions that shape our lives.” – Mike DeWine
  • “I'm different than most people. When I cross the finish line of a big race, I see that people are ecstatic, but I'm thinking about what I'm going to do tomorrow. It's as if my journey is everlasting, and there is no finish line.” – David Goggins
  • “The journey matters as much as the destination. By engaging at the moment on set, I've stopped rushing and now find pleasure in the collaborative process – the characters, the costumes – rather than worrying about the finished product.” – Michelle Dockery
  • “It's a life's journey of finding ourselves, finding our power, and living for yourself, not for everyone else.” – Mariska Hargitay

Final Thoughts on Life & Journey

Life is a journey, and we all take different paths.

There are those who take the road less traveled and enjoy unique accomplishments, while others go with the crowd but still end up loving the lives they’ve chosen as well. Regardless of our choices, we will all have the potential to become successful in the ways we personally define success.

We hope that these quotes inspired you to enjoy your life’s journey and make it more meaningful. Enjoy the moment and live happy!

And if you want more inspirational quotes, be sure to check out these blog posts:

  • 63 Inspiring Walt Whitman Quotes About Life
  • 51 Do What Makes You Happy Quotes for 2023
  • 107 Quotes About Overcoming Adversity and Challenges in Your Life

Finally, if you want to use these quotes to make a lasting change to your life, then check out and recite these 57 affirmations for success .

quotes about journey and destination | life journey quotes | beautiful journey quotes

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Experiencing hardship and adversity

The role of resilience in times of crisis, building resilience tip 1: practice acceptance, tip 2: reach out to others, tip 3: invest in self-care, tip 4: look for meaning and purpose, tip 5: stay motivated, surviving tough times by building resilience.

Whether you’re facing a global or personal crisis—or a mix of both—building resilience can help you cope with stress, overcome adversity, and enjoy the better days to come.

difficult part of journey

Lately, the world seems to be lurching from one crisis to another. We’ve experienced a global pandemic, dramatic changes to how we conduct our daily lives, economic uncertainty, and political and social turmoil, as well as an array of natural disasters. Then there are personal traumas that people are also dealing with, such as the loss of a loved one, declining health, unemployment, divorce, violent crime, or tragic accidents. For many us, this is a time of unprecedented struggle and upheaval.

Whether the source of disruption in your life is a global emergency or a personal tragedy—or both—living through difficult times can take a heavy toll on your mood, health, and outlook. It can leave you feeling helpless and overwhelmed by stress and anxiety. You may be painfully grieving all that you’ve lost, flooded by a slew of difficult, conflicting emotions, or uncertain about how to move on with your life. You may even feel that your life is totally out of control and you’re powerless to affect whatever may happen next.

While there’s no way to avoid sorrow, adversity, or distress in life, there are ways to help smooth the rough waters and regain a sense of control. Resilience is the ability to cope with the loss, change, and trauma that have been inevitable parts of life even before these extraordinary times. Building resilience can help you better adapt to life-changing events, cope with turbulent times, and bounce back from hardship and tragedy.

Why do some people seem to be better able to cope in these troubling times than others? While everyone’s situation is different, it is true that people with resilience tend to have a higher tolerance for the emotional distress generated by hard times. The more resilient you are, the better you’re able to tolerate the feelings of stress, anxiety, and sadness that accompany trauma and adversity—and find a way to rebound from setbacks.

[Read: How to Cope with Traumatic Events]

We all go through bad times, we all experience disappointment, loss, and change, and we all feel sad, anxious, and stressed at various times in our lives. But building resilience can help you to maintain a positive outlook, face an uncertain future with less fear, and get through even the darkest days.

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Building resilience

If you’re more sensitive to emotional distress and are finding it difficult to cope with hardship or adversity, it’s important not to think of it as some kind of character flaw. Resilience isn’t a macho quality and it isn’t fixed; it’s an ongoing process that requires effort to build and maintain over time.

Unless you’ve faced adversity in your life before, it’s unlikely you’ve had the need or opportunity to develop resilience. Drawing on past experiences can help you cope with the challenges you’re facing today. Even if you’ve struggled to cope with adversity in the past, you may at least be able to recognize some of the ways of coping that DON’T help, such as trying to numb your feelings with drugs or alcohol .

While it’s often difficult to imagine anything good coming out of traumatic experiences, building resilience can help you find any positives in the difficulties you’ve faced. Surviving hardships can teach you important things about yourself and the world around you, strengthen your resolve, deepen your empathy, and in time enable you to evolve and grow as a human being.

Building resilience can also help you to:

  • Stay focused, flexible, and productive, in both good and bad times.
  • Feel less afraid of new experiences or an uncertain future.
  • Manage and tolerate strong emotions outside your comfort zone, even those you’d rather avoid like anger or despair.
  • Strengthen your relationships and improve your communication skills, especially under pressure.
  • Bolster your self-esteem.
  • Be confident you’ll eventually find a solution to a problem, even when one isn’t immediately apparent.

You can develop and improve these qualities of resilience at any time, regardless of your age, background, or circumstances. The following tips can help you face hardships with more confidence, better cope with these tumultuous times, and make it through to the brighter, more hopeful days ahead.

While we all react to stressful events in different ways, many of us try to protect ourselves by refusing to accept the truth of what’s happening. After all, by denying that you’re even experiencing a crisis, you can kid yourself that you still have some sense of control over what are usually uncontrollable events.

While denial can have some positive functions—it can give you an opportunity to come to terms with the shock of a traumatic event, for example—over time, it will just prolong your pain. Staying in denial will prevent you from adapting to your new circumstances, stop you from seeking solutions or taking action, and stifle the healing process.

Accept the situation

Change is an inevitable part of life and many aspects of the changing world are outside your individual control. You can’t control the spread of a virus, for example, the pace of social change, or how the economy behaves. While it can be tough to acknowledge, railing against events or circumstances outside your control will only drain you of energy and leave you feeling anxious and hopeless. Accepting your situation, on the other hand, can free you up to devote your energy to the things that you do have control over.

Focus on things within your control. Make a list of all the things you can’t control and give yourself permission to stop worrying about them . Instead, focus on the action that you can take. If you’re unemployed, you can’t control whether the ideal job appears in the wants ads or whether an employer will grant you an interview. But you can control how much time and effort you put into searching for work or brushing up on your skills. Similarly, if a loved one is facing a life-threatening illness, you may have to relinquish control to the medical experts, but you can still focus on providing your loved one with as much emotional support as possible.

Accept change by looking to your past. Looking back at examples where you’ve coped with uncertainty and change before can help you accept your current situation. Perhaps you suffered a painful breakup in the past and were eventually able to move on with your life, or you lost a job and ended up finding a better one? Examining your past successes can also help you see past the current crisis and derive some confidence that you’ll be able to pull through again.

Accept your feelings

It’s tempting to believe that the best way to get through hard times is by ignoring painful emotions and “putting on a brave face”. But unpleasant emotions exist whether you choose to acknowledge them or not. Trying to prevent your emotions from surfacing will only fuel your stress, delay acceptance of your new situation, and prevent you from moving on.

By allowing yourself to feel your emotions, you’ll find that even the most intense, upsetting feelings will pass, the trauma of these tough times will start to fade, and you’ll be able to find a path forward. Talk to someone you trust about what you’re experiencing or use HelpGuide’s Emotional Intelligence Toolkit to reconnect with your emotions.

Grieve your losses

Undergoing tough times usually involves some kind of loss. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the loss of your old life, it’s important you allow yourself the opportunity to grieve. Only by facing your grief —acknowledging and mourning your losses—will you be able to heal and eventually move on with your life.

Connecting with friends and family when you’re going through tough times can help ease stress, boost your mood, and make sense of all the change and disruption . Instead of feeling like you’re facing your problems alone, you can draw strength and build resilience from having others to lean on.

The people you reach out to don’t need to have answers to the problems you’re facing; they just need to be willing to listen to you without judging. In fact, what you talk about or the words used are often unimportant. It’s the human connection—eye contact, a smile, or a hug—that can make all the difference to how you’re feeling.

Prioritize relationships . Nothing carries the same health benefits as connecting face-to-face with someone who is caring and empathetic. These days, however, it’s not always possible to see friends and loved ones in person. If you’re kept apart by geography, lockdown, or travel restrictions, for example, reach out to others via phone, video chat, or social media.

Don’t withdraw in tough times. You may be inclined to retreat into your shell when you’re facing challenges in your life. You may fear being a burden to friends and loved ones or feel too exhausted to reach out. But try to keep up with social activities even when you don’t feel like it. Good friends won’t consider you a burden—they’re more likely to feel flattered that you trust them enough to confide in them.

Try to avoid negative people. Some friends are good listeners, kind and empathetic. Others seem to only fuel negative emotions, leaving you feeling even more stressed, anxious, or panicky. Try to avoid anyone who magnifies your problems, criticizes, or makes you feel judged.

Expand your social network. Even though relationships are vital for good mental health , building resilience, and getting through tough times, many of us feel that we don’t have anyone to turn to in times of need. But there are plenty of ways to build new friendships and improve your support network. If you know others who are lonely or isolated, be the one to take the initiative and reach out.

Living through tough times can be both mentally and physically draining. Constantly being in a heightened state of stress can lead to serious health problems, impact your immune and digestive systems, increase your risk of heart attack and stroke, and lead to burnout , a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion.

Since the body and mind are so closely linked, investing in self-care is an important part of building resilience and getting through times of great stress. When your body feels strong and healthy so, too, will your mind.

Get enough exercise. When you’re dealing with chronic stress, you likely carry it somewhere in your body. Maybe your muscles are tense, you have back or neck pain, frequent headaches, insomnia, heartburn, or an upset stomach? Getting regular exercise not only releases powerful endorphins in the brain to improve your mood, but it can also help to ease tension in the body and counteract the physical symptoms of stress.

Practice a “mind and body” relaxation technique. Practices such as yoga, tai chi, and meditation blend deep breathing and body awareness to help you relieve stress and bring your nervous system back into balance. Try one of HelpGuide’s audio meditations to boost your physical and emotional well-being.

[Listen: Inner Strength Meditation]

Improve your sleep. When you’re facing adversity, nothing wears down your resilience like missing out on a good night’s sleep. Often, improving your daytime habits and taking the time to relax and unwind before bed can help you sleep better at night .

Eat well. There are no specific foods that can help build resilience and weather tough times. Rather, it’s your overall dietary pattern that’s important. Eating lots of processed and takeout food can take a toll on your brain and mood, sapping your energy, and weakening your immune system. A healthy diet , on the other hand—one that’s low in sugar and rich in healthy fats—can give you the energy and focus to tackle the challenges you’re facing.

Manage your overall stress levels . Taking steps to manage your overall stress can break the hold it has over your life, improve your mood, and help you build the resilience you need to hold up under pressure at this time.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by frightening headlines or consumed by the crisis you’re facing. But whatever your circumstances, it doesn’t have to define you as a person. You are not your crisis. By pursuing activities that bring purpose and meaning to your life, you can keep your problems in perspective, prevent them from overwhelming you, and maintain your identity.

Everyone is different so we all have different ways of experiencing purpose and meaning. Don’t limit yourself by others’ expectations; pursue activities that are important to you and add satisfaction to your life.

Give help to others. When you’re in the midst of a crisis, it’s common to feel powerless and helpless. By proactively helping others, you can regain a sense of control as well as find purpose in your life. In fact, giving support can be just as beneficial as receiving support. Try volunteering , helping others in your neighborhood, giving blood, donating to a charity, or marching for a cause that’s important to you.

Pursue your hobbies and interests. In turbulent times, it’s important not to cast aside interests that nourish your spirit. For many of us, it’s these things that define us as individuals and bring meaning to our lives. Whether it’s playing a sport, caring for a pet , an artistic or musical endeavor, home improvement projects, or spending time in nature, continuing to draw pleasure from your pastimes adds to your ability to cope with the stress of difficult times.

An important part of coping with adversity and making it through tough times is to foster qualities of persistence and endurance. Tough times don’t last forever, but by their very nature they’re rarely over quickly. As you plot a road through the darkness, you need to find ways to stay motivated and persevere.

Deal with your problems one step at a time. If a problem is too big to deal with all at once, try breaking it down into smaller, more manageable steps. If your problem seems to have no possible solution, you can still take action by drawing up a list, researching more about the subject, or seeking the advice of a trusted friend or loved one.

Celebrate small wins. To stay motivated and positive as you navigate stormy seas in life, take a moment to savor your small successes. If you’re looking for work, for example, getting an interview isn’t as meaningful as landing a job, but it’s a sign of progress, a step in the right direction. Noting these small wins can give you a welcome break from all the stress and negativity you’re facing and encourage you to keep going.

[Read: Finding Joy During Difficult Times]

Try to maintain a hopeful outlook. While it’s difficult to stay positive and hopeful in the midst of a crisis, many of us tend to blow our problems out of proportion and make them seem even more negative than they really are. Try taking a step back and examining your situation as an outsider. Are their rays of hope that you can focus on? Instead of worrying about what you fear may happen, try visualizing what you’d like to happen instead.

Express gratitude. It may sound trite, but even when you’re experience terrible times, it’s usually possible to find one thing you can be grateful about—the love of a pet, for example, a beautiful sunset, or a caring friend. Taking a moment to acknowledge your gratitude for such small things can provide respite from the stress and really boost your mood.

Be kind to yourself. Everyone adjusts to change and upheaval differently. Don’t criticize your coping skills or beat yourself up for every mistake you make. Self-compassion is an important part of building resilience, so go easy on yourself.

More Information

  • Building your resilience - A roadmap for adapting to life-changing situations. (American Psychological Association)
  • Tolerating Distress - Tools to help you face your feelings during difficult times. (Centre for Clinical Interventions)
  • Five Science-Backed Strategies to Build Resilience - Ways to build resilience and confront emotional pain. (Greater Good Magazine, UC Berkeley)
  • Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders. (2013). In Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders . American Psychiatric Association. Link
  • Norris, F. H. “Epidemiology of Trauma: Frequency and Impact of Different Potentially Traumatic Events on Different Demographic Groups.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 60, no. 3 (June 1992): 409–18. Link
  • Macedo, Tania, Livia Wilheim, Raquel Gonçalves, Evandro Silva Freire Coutinho, Liliane Vilete, Ivan Figueira, and Paula Ventura. “Building Resilience for Future Adversity: A Systematic Review of Interventions in Non-Clinical Samples of Adults.” BMC Psychiatry 14, no. 1 (August 14, 2014): 227. Link
  • Joyce, Sadhbh, Fiona Shand, Joseph Tighe, Steven J Laurent, Richard A Bryant, and Samuel B Harvey. “Road to Resilience: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Resilience Training Programmes and Interventions.” BMJ Open 8, no. 6 (June 14, 2018): e017858. Link
  • Lee, Tak Yan, Chau Kiu Cheung, and Wai Man Kwong. “Resilience as a Positive Youth Development Construct: A Conceptual Review.” The Scientific World Journal 2012 (May 2, 2012): 390450. Link
  • Forbes, Sarah, and Deniz Fikretoglu. “Building Resilience: The Conceptual Basis and Research Evidence for Resilience Training Programs.” Review of General Psychology 22, no. 4 (December 1, 2018): 452–68. Link
  • Shatté, Andrew, Adam Perlman, Brad Smith, and Wendy D. Lynch. “The Positive Effect of Resilience on Stress and Business Outcomes in Difficult Work Environments.” Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 59, no. 2 (February 2017): 135–40. Link
  • Hoegl, Martin, and Silja Hartmann. “Bouncing Back, If Not beyond: Challenges for Research on Resilience.” Asian Business & Management 20, no. 4 (September 1, 2021): 456–64. Link
  • Silver, Kristin E., Meera Kumari, Danette Conklin, and Gunnur Karakurt. “Trauma and Health Symptoms in a Community Sample: Examining the Influences of Gender and Daily Stress.” The American Journal of Family Therapy 46, no. 2 (2018): 153–67. Link
  • Sansbury, Brittany S, Kelly Graves, and Wendy Scott. “Managing Traumatic Stress Responses among Clinicians: Individual and Organizational Tools for Self-Care.” Trauma 17, no. 2 (April 1, 2015): 114–22. Link
  • Bower, Gordon H., and Heidi Sivers. “Cognitive Impact of Traumatic Events.” Development and Psychopathology 10, no. 4 (December 1998): 625–53. Link
  • Ley, Clemens, María Rato Barrio, and Andreas Koch. “‘In the Sport I Am Here’: Therapeutic Processes and Health Effects of Sport and Exercise on PTSD.” Qualitative Health Research 28, no. 3 (February 1, 2018): 491–507. Link
  • Hegberg, Nicole J., Jasmeet P. Hayes, and Scott M. Hayes. “Exercise Intervention in PTSD: A Narrative Review and Rationale for Implementation.” Frontiers in Psychiatry 10 (2019): 133. Link

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  • Published July 17, 2020
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4 Unexpected Lessons Learned From Hardships & Adversity

4 Unexpected Lessons Learned From Hardships & Adversity

Pain touches everyone. If you’re lucky, the toughest times in your life will be fleeting. But some hardships — including the global coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath — may linger for years, and continue to present new challenges for individuals and organizations.

Hardships aren’t asked for and aren’t usually welcomed. They’re not something you would plan into your development in the coming year. Yet, hardships are unavoidable.

The good news is, adversity can actually be a powerful teacher.

The Most Common Hardships From The Lessons of Experience

At CCL, we have a long history of studying the lessons learned from hardships and the way people learn them. The body of work — called The Lessons of Experience research — has been conducted over 5 decades across 40 countries. In the research, we’ve found that most hardships fall into 4 categories:

  • Personal Trauma:  Often unexpected and shocking, personal trauma is generally an experience you can’t control, and that causes feelings of confusion or loss. This could be anything from the coronavirus pandemic to a death in the family to surviving a car crash.
  • Discrimination & Injustice:  Whether it occurs in the workplace or another part of your life, experiencing discrimination or injustice is one of the most common hardships. This involves a wide range of subtle and overt, intentional and unintentional behavior and actions that can cause long-lasting negative consequences.
  • Mistakes & Failures:  Such mistakes can be technical, professional, ethical, or strategic — for example, a product malfunction, a poor hiring decision, a loss of credibility, or a collapsed venture. It can often feel difficult to bounce back from these failures, especially if they’re larger in scale, tied to a deeper workplace culture or issue, or far-reaching in their impact.
  • Career Setbacks:  Sometimes career setbacks are unavoidable or out of your control. It could be organization-wide layoffs, a freeze on hiring or promotions, a company reorganization, or a wide array of less severe but nonetheless significant events.

In most learning and development work, we follow the classic 70-20-10 rule , trying to find ways to provide people with challenging — or stretch — assignments, such as taking on a new role or difficult assignment. Sometimes called “ heat experiences ,” the majority of learning from these challenges comes from the success of meeting them.

Hardships are similar in that we learn from pushing through the challenge we face. By facing an initial lack of success with resilience, we can actually grow considerably more through reframing how we approach these difficult experiences.

Though hardships were long an overlooked influence on leadership learning , people are beginning to recognize now that they can be mined for key leadership lessons.

4 Lessons Learned From Hardships & Adversity

Hardships can bring unexpected gifts if we’re open to gleaning lessons from them. While this isn’t automatic, anyone can find and embrace these silver linings. Here are 4 lessons learned from hardships.

Infographic: 4 Lessons Learned From Hardships

What We Learn From Hardships

1. compassion & sensitivity..

A significant dose of humility usually comes with hardship. It’s never easy to confront the truth that you aren’t perfect, invincible, or immune to difficult or even terrible things. But going through hardship can open your eyes to the hardships of others. Receiving support and help from others may motivate you to give support more readily. Your sense of compassion can grow.

2. Self-Knowledge & Perspective.

Hardships force you to come face-to-face with who you are. Lessons learned from hardships often reveal limitations, patterns, beliefs, and skills you didn’t see or appreciate before. This shift, which  increases self-awareness,  is powerful. You have the chance to make new choices based on what matters; how you act, think, and feel; and what you can and can’t do.

3. Limits of Control.

As much as you might want to chart your own path, hardship is a powerful reminder of the limits of your own control. By acknowledging and embracing those limits on your power, you can put down some of the weight you’re carrying and accept that some things aren’t up to you.

4. Flexibility.

Surviving hardship and willing yourself to move forward builds added strength to tackle new challenges and face future failures. Flexibility allows you to be resilient and durable as things change . It teaches you to be open to learning and agile as you figure out what to do next.

When you’re in the middle of a really tough time, these gifts may seem far away or irrelevant — but they’re invaluable.

How to Learn Lessons From the Hardships You Face

6 ways to grow from adversity.

Here are a few suggestions to help you glean silver linings from difficult times:

1. Don’t let the hardship be everything.

Rest, exercise, and make time for wellness where you can. Spend time — even if it’s remotely — reconnecting with people who make you laugh, and do things that get your mind off your troubles. Recovery time, even if in small amounts, is essential for learning.

2. Don’t be ashamed of failures, mistakes, or struggles.

To learn, you need to reflect on the experience. Plus, reluctance to talk to others or get support can make your hardship that much more difficult to overcome. Instead of beating yourself up over it, figure out what you can do differently in the future, and keep moving forward.

3. Avoid defensiveness.

Resist the temptation to put the blame on the situation or others’ shortcomings. Try not to react defensively when other people give you feedback or point out things you are (or aren’t) doing. Denying problems or shifting blame away from yourself will not serve you in the long run.

4. Keep asking questions.

  • How might this hardship be a new challenge?
  • What might I learn as a result?
  • How might lessons from past experiences apply?
  • How am I feeling?
  • What’s my intuition telling me?
  • What are my actions telling me about what’s working and what’s not working?
  • What can I learn from what I and others did in this situation?
  • What feedback do I need to seek from others?
  • How might this help me going forward?

5. Connect with others.

If you’re experiencing discrimination, bias, or injustice, reach out to people who can relate or support you. Internalizing the experience won’t help you or anyone else, and it will only allow the situation to fester. Identify people you trust and figure out how you’d like to proceed.

6. Look back to find your lessons of experience.

Hardships aren’t the main way people learn — experience is the primary teacher. Our Lessons of Experience research tells us that almost a quarter of all leadership development stems from hardships. That’s more than classroom experiences or formal training opportunities, meaning that what you’re going through right now could be a powerful catalyst on your leadership journey. Consider using our  Experience Explorer™ activity  for yourself and others.

Hardship is painful. But if you can learn from it, and turn it into an opportunity for growth, you gain something back that stays with you forever.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Help your leaders learn to extract lessons from hardships they face, maintaining resilience while handling uncertainty and setbacks. Equip them  with a customized learning journey using our research-backed modules. Available leadership topics include Change & Disruption, Conflict Management, Emotional Intelligence, Learning Agility, Psychological Safety, Resilience-Building , Self-Awareness, and more.

Based on Research by

Bill Pasmore

Bill leads our efforts to help clients develop leadership strategies their organizations can use to transform their leadership cultures and capabilities. A thought leader in the field of organization development, he advises CEOs and Boards on challenges of the future including business disruption, new ways of organizing, creating more effective digital networks, leading continuous change, and improving senior team effectiveness.

Cindy McCauley

With over 30 years of experience at CCL, Cindy has contributed to many aspects of CCL’s work: research, publication, product development, program evaluation, coaching, and management. She designs and manages R&D projects, coaches action learning teams, writes for multiple audiences, and is a frequent speaker at professional conferences.

Alice Cahill

Alice applies her extensive facilitation and consulting experience to the design and delivery of leadership engagements for executive and senior level leaders of organizations in a wide range of industries. She holds a PhD in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University, as well as graduate degrees in several disciplines, including Adult Education and Public Health.

Mike Smith

Mike has over 2 decades of experience in a variety of leadership roles in the tech industry. He cofounded an entrepreneurial startup and led marketing and business development in a Fortune 100 company. He now partners with our clients to help them align their people development strategy with their enterprise business strategy and shape the leadership culture required to drive organizational performance.

Chuck Ainsworth

Chuck is leader in the field of leadership coaching and a sought-after keynote speaker with a refreshingly authentic, practical, and inspiring style. He created CCL’s Better Conversations Every Day ™, a highly successful one-day experience designed to be scaled for enterprise culture change and aimed at unlocking emotionally intelligent, feedback-rich conversations.

Charles Palus

Chuck is an Honorary Senior Fellow and co-founded of CCL’s Organizational Leadership Practice and CCL Labs. Retired in 2020, Chuck studied, taught, and developed leadership as a relational process in the context of the vertical transformation of leadership cultures, with a special interest in digital disruption.

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What to explore next.

difficult part of journey

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On Making It Through Tough Journeys

By leo babauta.

A reader wrote to me about a very tough journey he and his wife are setting out upon, and asked for some words of advice or motivation though this tough time.

Difficult times can be a test of our souls, and as such can be some of the most instructive times possible.

It’s easy to be happy and motivated when things are going well. But what happens when they fall apart, or unexpected troubles come your way, or things go exactly as you don’t want them to? What do you do then?

I’ll share some things I’ve been learning about personally, and give you a word of encouragement: you are stronger than you think.

You’ll go through difficult times, and suffer, and learn. And come out stronger and better at the other side.

There are four things that I’ve been learning about that help me through tough times:

1. Happiness isn’t outside of us

We often seek happiness outside of ourselves, through pleasure (food, shopping, video games, TV, Internet, alcohol, cigarettes, drugs) or other people (the person of our dreams, approval of others, social networks) or big life goals (travel, creating a business, art).

But I’ve learned that none of those things actually makes you happy. Sure, they can give you a boost of pleasure or joy, but it’s temporary and soon you’re looking for the next thing that will make you happy. This leaves you in a constant state of seeking pleasure, distraction, approval, comparisons to others, and so on. And it doesn’t result in contentment.

However, if we realize that happiness isn’t outside of us, but actually comes from within … then we can always access it. What is the source of this inner happiness? I find that I can do certain things that make me happy: being grateful for who I am and what I have, learning about myself and the world, playing and being curious, thinking about others and wishing them happiness … these things might be tied to external things (what I have, other people), but they are available no matter where I am, what I have, who is in the world.

And they can help during a tough journey. If you can find happiness inside you, then no matter what’s happening externally, you can access this source of happiness. You might lose your job, get sick, lose a loved one, have to go through a difficult medical procedure, go through a divorce … and you can still find this happiness. It’s there if you choose to use it. The external circumstances of your life matter, but they don’t take away your true source of happiness.

2. Embrace your entire range of experiences

Too often we want just a small range of experiences — the good things, the comfortable things, the experiences that make us feel good about ourselves. And yet, reality is different. It gives us a lot of different kinds of experiences, from anger and frustration to joy to pleasure to coldness to loneliness and grief. These are all part of our human condition, unavoidable.

So we can rail against the injustice of having to lose something we love, having to go through difficulty, having to be lonely and sad, having to be treated unfairly. That will just lead to more unhappiness.

Or we can embrace the entire range of our experiences. That will include all our emotions, all our joyful moments and painful ones and everything in between. Life is not just the warm and beautiful. It’s all of it.

Embracing these experiences means taking everything in with open arms, being vulnerable to whatever happens, being compassionate with ourselves when things are hard, giving ourselves some kindness and love and gratitude no matter what happens. It means accepting what is, and accepting ourselves as we are, not trying to mold ourselves into the perfect human, whatever we think that may be. Not trying to mold our lives into the perfect lives, whatever we think that may be.

This isn’t easy, I’ll admit, but this kind of openness leads to much greater happiness with life.

3. Renew your gratitude

Our lives are filled with miraculous gifts, and we are constantly taking them for granted, and complaining that life isn’t better. I do it myself, all the time. But when I catch myself doing this, and remember to be grateful, life is suddenly so much better.

Is your job boring? You might be grateful you have a job at all, a roof over your head, food on the table. Are you unappreciated? You might be grateful you have anyone in your life at all, perhaps some loved ones.

You have life. This is such an incredible gift.

You might be grateful for your health, if you have it. Or you might not have perfect health, but you have legs to walk on. If you have no legs, perhaps you have eyes to enjoy the sight of a cherry blossom or sunset. If you have no eyes, perhaps you can hear music. If you have none of these, perhaps you can still learn things from reading in Braille. Imagine being without the joy of Tolstoy and Shakespeare and Cervantes! We live in an amazing world, no matter what our circumstances.

And for anyone reading this (myself included), we need to think about how incredible it is that we have computers, and smart phones, connected to a powerful thing called the Internet. We have comfortable homes, great food, fairly good health, books to read, gorgeous nature all around us, people who love us. That’s quite miraculous, and yet we take it all for granted.

When times get tough, you might not have all of this. But you still have a lot to be grateful for.

4. Find Lovingkindness for yourself

As we work on embracing the entire range of our experiences, there will be some difficulty. It’s not always easy to allow ourselves to be sad, scared, frustrated, or grieving.

How do we live through these experiences without giving up?

We find compassion for ourselves, kindness, love.

Suffering in all kinds of ways is part of our experiences as humans. We suffer, in ways small and large, and we want to be happy. We all have that in common.

And so accepting our suffering and desire to be happy as a part of being human … we then turn to wanting our suffering to end. Wishing ourselves happiness and wellbeing.

This is kindness and compassion for our suffering selves. It’s not feeling sorry for ourselves, but wanting ourselves to be happy.

Whenever we see pain and fear in ourselves, we can recognize it, and wish ourselves happiness. Wish an end to the suffering. Be kind to ourselves.

And then, having given ourselves this kindness, we can turn to the person next to us, and recognize they are also suffering and just want to be happy. If they lash out at us in anger, recognize that they are just suffering like us. And wish them happiness, wish an end to their suffering.

In doing so, we can melt our own hardened hearts, open ourselves to others, embrace them with love. And the journey, as hard as it may be, becomes better.

Posted: 04.14.2014

Previous post: The Hard Stuff Often Matters Most

Next post: 10 Ways to Do What You Don’t Want to Do

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What Obstacles Did Lewis and Clark's Expedition Encounter?

Brian gabriel, 25 jun 2018.

What Obstacles Did Lewis and Clark's Expedition Encounter?

In 1803, U.S. President Thomas Jefferson created the Corps of Discovery and commissioned Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to lead an expedition into the American Northwest. Starting out in 1804, Lewis and Clark led an arduous expedition from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean for a total journey of 3,700 miles on man-powered boats, horseback and foot. They faced many obstacles on their journey including bad weather, difficult terrain and dangerous encounters with some Native American tribes.

Explore this article

  • Geographical Obstacles
  • Bad Weather
  • Animals and Insects
  • Encounters with Native Americans

1 Geographical Obstacles

One of Jefferson’s goals with the expedition was to find a northwest water route to the Pacific Ocean. According to Al Bredenberg of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Jefferson had expected that the Corps of Discovery would find a short and easy passage to the Pacific after leaving the Missouri. But instead the explorers had to endure a series of hardships, such as making their way along the Lolo Trail through the Bitterroot Mountains. The crossing of the Lolo Trail took 11 days and the travelers nearly starved. The expedition had to carry their boats in a process called portaging; they were only able to cover 4 to 5 miles a day. They would finally reach the Pacific coast in November 1805, a year and a half after setting out from St. Louis.

2 Bad Weather

Lewis and Clark's Expedition had to deal with thunderstorms, extreme heat and cold temperatures, hail storms and dust clouds. The team’s worst winter weather occurred at Fort Clatsop near the Pacific coast in early 1806. According to the U.S. Army Center of Military History, it rained all but 12 days that winter and the explorers’ clothes rotted off their backs.

3 Animals and Insects

The Corps of Discovery encountered many wild animals on their journey while making their way along the western rivers. Lewis was nearly killed by a grizzly bear in one recorded instance, and the team was confronted by no less than 40 bears on the expedition. Mosquitoes were also a major problem for the explorers. Sergeant John Ordway, the only member of the expedition who made a diary entry for each of the trek's days, wrote in his journal that the mosquitoes were “troublesome” and talked about how they caused swelling in his face and eyes.

4 Encounters with Native Americans

Although most encounters with Native American groups proved hospitable to the Corps of Discovery, the explorers did have one violent incident. When the group reached Travelers Rest in Montana, Lewis led a small team north up the Marias River. The group encountered some Blackfeet Indians and fought them. Although no members of the expedition were killed in the fighting, they killed two Blackfeet.

  • 1 Smithsonian Museum of Natural History: Lewis & Clark: Mapping the West: The Expedition of the Corps of Discovery
  • 2 U.S. Army Center of Military History: Corps of Discovery
  • 3 National Park Service: Determining the Facts Reading 1: The Corps of Discovery
  • 4 Discovering Lewis and Clark: John Ordway

About the Author

Brian Gabriel has been a writer and blogger since 2009, contributing to various online publications. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in history from Whitworth University.

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The Hardest Part of the Journey

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Introduction

Today marks the beginning of a four-week series on the one book of the Bible that perhaps is read less often than any other. If we took a survey, I'm sure it would take the prize for the least-read book of the Bible, finishing just behind Numbers and Leviticus. Even the name sounds boring.

There's a good reason Deuteronomy is not read very often. To understand why, we need to know that the Old Testament is divided into different sections. The first five books of the Bible form a section known as the Torah or Pentateuch. These are the books of Law. Deuteronomy is the very last book in this section. They are, in order: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. If you read straight through to the end of Numbers, you could simply skip to the end of Deuteronomy, and you'd be at the same place in the narrative. The Book of Numbers ends with these wandering ex-slaves gathered on the banks of the Jordan River, waiting to enter the Promised Land. Arrive at the end of Deuteronomy, and you'll see they haven't moved from this spot. In other words, you could remove this book entirely and not miss a beat in the story.

Another reason Deuteronomy doesn't get read very often is that it's basically all words and almost no action. It's comprised of three sermons by Moses and a set of laws thrown in for the fun of it. Most of the sermons by Moses are retelling stories and laws we've already heard in the previous books. In fact, this is where the name Deuteronomy comes from— deutero means "second," and nomos means "law." It is called the "second law;" it's mostly repetition. If you read this book at a surface level, you might observe that it really has nothing new to say. So I think it's reasonable to wonder why this book is in the Bible to begin with! More importantly, why would anyone do an entire series of sermons on it?

One reason is that Deuteronomy is Jesus' favorite book in the Bible. I know, I know—Jesus doesn't have favorites. But if he did, this book would be it. Not only does he directly quote this book repeatedly, but his teachings and life reflect many of the themes found only in Deuteronomy. Some have called it "the first New Testament," because it presents an innovation in Israel's theology. It presents a new approach to the old law. In addition, most scholars consider Deuteronomy to be the theological center of the Old Testament, because the author or authors of this book also wrote all the books that follow it, from Joshua to 2 Kings . In this sense, Deuteronomy is the hidden hand that works the puppet. By understanding Deuteronomy, we pull back the curtain and reveal the intention and direction of this hand. In doing so, we can better understand the books that follow it and even the words of Jesus.

Given Deuteronomy's importance to Jesus and how its subtle power shapes the rest of Scripture, we should take a closer look to discover what it is that Jesus liked so much.

Deuteronomy is the story of a people in transition.

At the beginning of Deuteronomy, we get a clue to the uniqueness of the book. Deuteronomy 1:1 : "These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness … Beyond the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses undertook to expound this law as follows …."

This passage sets the framework, the context for Moses' preaching. There are two things that stand out. First, it says, "Moses undertook to expound the law." That is, to explain, interpret, and expand—not simply to speak or introduce the law. In other words, Moses is not simply setting out to repeat the law and the stories in the wilderness—he is setting out to explain and give meaning to the law.

Moses doesn't simply offer a verbatim repetition of the stories and laws. Instead, he offers a creative elaboration and revision of older laws and stories. He is expounding, not simply describing. It is clear that he's doing this because many of the people of Israel weren't around for the first giving of the law. But more importantly, this explanation is tailor-made for the completely new situation that these people now find themselves in. This is the second thing about this passage—their new situation.

It says twice that Moses spoke to them beyond the Jordan in the wilderness. If you missed it the first time, he says it again. They are now on the banks of the Jordan River, no longer wandering in the wilderness, and they have yet to enter the Promised Land now visible to them. They are forced to wait in between. They are at the heart of a transition. This is a book about transitions. It is not only the story that presents a transition. Deuteronomy itself is a transitional book. It provides the bridge between the end of the Torah and the beginning of the books of history and prophets. The book halts both us as readers and the Hebrew people; it forces us to wait before entering the Promised Land to listen to a lengthy, meandering sermon by a very old man.

The in-between is the hardest part of any journey.

This transition zone is a difficult place to be because it is neither an adventure nor home. The in-between is the hardest part of any journey where we are asked to wait and listen—not to act or even react. It demands a courageous patience and a capacity to endure the unknown. While there is nothing that has to be done or needs accomplishing when we are in between, it is certainly not a place of rest. If it were, we would want to stay "in between."

Instead, it is a place of restless anticipation. I am reminded of an experience I had repeatedly as a child growing up. My family would always drive to our cottage in Canada from Minneapolis, a 1,000 mile-journey. For my brother it was no problem—he could sleep on command and get lost in a book whenever he wanted. Not true for me. I would be awake the whole time and I hated reading, so basically the trip was always unbearable for me. I remember vividly about halfway through our second day of driving, I would begin to ask the universal questions every kid asks on a long car ride: "Are we there yet? How much longer? Are we there yet?"

In the in-between, or times of transition, we revisit this near-universal childhood frustration and are compelled to ask God the questions, "Are we there yet? How much longer?" I spent four years between leaving my career in advertising and accepting this call asking God the questions, "How much longer? Are we there yet?" I am well-acquainted with the in-between. It isn't fun, but it is a normal part of a life of faith. It is a normal part of the maturing process.

I know that many of you are in the in-between in your own lives, and as a congregation, we are certainly in transition. We are aware that a previous era has closed and we are waiting for what is to come. We are invited to wait and listen. Many of us are grieving the loss of Kevin Snyder. Grief is a time in between, where we are between the time that person's life filled us and the time we are left empty and reeling. We are between immense loss and what seems like a distant possibility of ever living a normal life again.

I believe Deuteronomy, a book about the in-between—provides us some helpful guidance and suggestions for living in transition. And so over the next four weeks, I want us to live alongside the Hebrew people between two places. Let us stand on the banks of the Jordan River and listen to the wisdom of an old man as we wait and hope for God's promises to be fulfilled.

And while we are in between, whether in our personal lives or in our congregational life, I invite you to ask God, "Are we there yet?" It is a simple but honest prayer that opens our hearts to God and offers our deepest desires, which God longs to hear.

Shane Hipps is lead pastor of Trinity Mennonite Church and author of The Hidden Power of Electronic Culture: How Media Shapes Faith, the Gospel, and Church (Zondervan, 2006).

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I. deuteronomy is the story of a people in transition., ii. the in-between is the hardest part of any journey., free newsletters:.

Why Starting Is Often The Hardest Part Of Any Journey

By Maia Stone

Having the guts to start is always the hardest part when trying to get out of your comfort zone. Starting is far more difficult than improving. The anxiety itself is crippling. The thought that you probably started too late and that you’ll never catch up can really put your motivation and enthusiasm to a screeching halt. You’ll try to search the things you need to ‘learn first’ before starting; but the thing is, there will be so much more of that once you started digging. There will always be something new to learn, and before you know it, you’ll be an enthusiast of something you don’t even know how to do.

Beginners always underestimate themselves. As soon as you decide to confront a problem, you’ll realize just how much more capable you are than you imagined.

Fear has an odd timing. From the moment you conceive your plan up until you actually start doing it, fear will be present. It will cease to exist the moment you take the first step, and then you’ll realize just how useless the feeling is.

You’ll learn a lot more by actually doing something than by thinking about doing it. You’ll learn more and improve more on painting by doing it, discovering your flaws, and using the experience to get better than getting an instructional book about painting. Sure, fear is helpful when avoiding predators, dangerous terrains, and poisonous food. It keeps us alive. Fear is necessary in those instances but when you’re doing something you love like writing a chapter of a book or making a sketch of your new painting, you kind of have to get hold of your animal instinct and remind yourself that it’s just a pen and a paper, not a funny looking plant that can poison you to death.

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The Difficult Part of My Journey

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I’m extremely frustrated.

I am 24 and hitting somewhat of a quarter life crisis. Not about what I want to do with my life. I’ve got that figured out. I want to live day-to-day in happiness. I haven’t worked out the details but I don’t think they are really that important today.

My crisis has arisen out of the realization that I’ve been living unnecessarily unhappy my entire life. I never knew that things could be any different. I just assumed that once I found a career that I really loved and a man who wanted to be with me, things would improve. I’m realizing that won’t change a thing.

It’s very sad to think I’ve spent my entire life feeling unworthy. I feel bad for her. The girl who apologizes for everything so that she doesn’t risk upsetting someone. The girl who doesn’t stick up for herself. The girl who is in one miserable relationship after another because she picks people who are unavailable and then feels terrible when they don’t want it to be anything more than casual. The girl who rarely finds meaningful friendships because she doesn’t feel like people will like the real her. She hides anything real. She seeks approval. She drives people away. It’s hard to open your eyes up and see how ashamed we can be of ourselves.

I’m embarrassed about the most recent break-up. I knew what it was and I still clung to him until I was the most miserable version of myself. I needed his love and he wasn’t able to give it. Both of us should not have been entering a relationship. But we did because we wanted someone to make us feel better.

I feel like he doesn’t respect me now. Because of the way I allowed myself to be treated. It hurts to lose someone that was such a big part of my life, whether or not is was a positive experience. I recognize him as the changing point of my opinion of myself, the catalyst to me being a better person…I guess that was his purpose in my life. I wish it were easy to accept that and let it go. My feelings are still there and it hurts.

I’m reading article after article on finding peace and loving yourself. They are wildly inspirational. The problem is: I want to be that person right now and I’m not. It’s as if I’ve been born again and I have to teach myself how to live now. Someone who has been unhappy their entire life does not just wake up one day loving themselves unconditionally. We have been conditioned. To “uncondition” takes a ton of hard work. I have a therapist, I’ve started volunteering, I’m trying yoga and meditation, I’ve got countless self-help books on my Kindle. The only good thing I can say about my state of mind is that I’m not depressed. I’m not utterly miserable. I am, however, numb. I am living without a spark. It’s like I’m passing the time until death. Nothing is exciting. I know I have to take the time to mourn the ending of my relationship. I’m also mourning for the girl who has been so convinced that she wasn’t worthy of love or success. Let me repeat: this realization is heart-breaking for me.

I’ve read about the depression and about the light at the end of the tunnel. No one speaks to the middle ground. No one has talked to me about how painful it is to lay all of your flaws and mistakes out in front of you and find the compassion to love yourself with them when no one else seems to be able to.

I know this stuff takes time but there is this voice in the back of my head that keeps saying “what if you’re missing something? What if you don’t manage to make your life what you want it to be? What if you can’t learn to live without the approval of others?”

Am I trying hard enough? What else could I do?

This brings me to the one positive piece to focus on right now. Finding the compassion for yourself allows you to find the compassion for everyone else. It makes me want to help others who may be struggling because in the end, we’re all fighting the same battles. We’re all trapped in our own minds. I’m writing because I know someone else feels exactly the same way that I do and maybe we can bring each other a little peace through compassion and understanding.

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I completely understand where you’re coming from. At the age of 35 I have recently realized that I am not the “depressed girl” that everyone labeled me as. It has been truly liberating to realize that truth. I am seeing a therapist who helps immensely. I would recommend you do the same. I have submerged myself in tiny Buddha articles. They really help! I know that I cannot change overnight and neither can you. However, taking baby steps is better than taking no steps. Be patient with yourself. Journal, yoga, make a bucket list of things you want to do just for you. All of these action items will help…just have faith. Good luck!

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I think Regina’s thoughts are very valid. I also think you’re on the right track…it’s just that the track is a bit longer than you thought. However, it’s good to see that you’ve learnt from all your past decisions and that’s a great thing…not something to lament. That’s what life is about…learning from our mistakes and from our successes, although wouldn’t it be nice to have less of the first? My unconditional self acceptance came late in life and, funnily enough, came as a result of some fairly difficult times…which is when we seem to have our greatest breakthroughs. Like you, I knew I needed to achieve it, but, in the end, I had to wait till the right trigger came along. So, I guess patience is an important element in all this. I think your head’s in the right lace…you just have to wait till the right trigger comes along…and it will.

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10 Words to Describe a Difficult Journey

By Ali Dixon

words to describe a difficult journey

If you want to present a challenging path a character in your book is taking, illustrate it using the following 10 words to describe a difficult journey.

Challenging or straining ; reaching or surpassing one’s endurance.

“The journey was a long and  trying  one, and by the end of it, they were all relieved to have finally reached their destination.”

“After their  trying  journey there, they took a long, well-earned rest.”

How It Adds Description

If a journey is difficult, then that can require a serious test of endurance.  Describing  the journey as a trying one can emphasize how difficult the journey was. You can use this word with some flexibility as well since a journey could be physically or emotionally trying.

Extending a significant distance or spanning a great length .

“Getting to the other side of the mountains would entail a  long , difficult journey.”

“If they wanted to reach their destination in time, they knew they would have to head out on their  long  journey as soon as possible.”

There are a lot of things that can make a journey difficult, including the length of the journey itself. Putting your character on a long journey can add even more tension to your story and make it more rewarding when your character finally reaches their destination.

Involving or imposing a burden .

“They all knew it would be a tiresome,  onerous  journey, so they made sure that they had packed all the supplies they would need.”

“She thought many times about giving up on her  onerous  journey, but she knew that what waited for her ahead would be worth all the trouble she had gone to.”

Onerous isn’t a word one sees often, so it can stand out to your readers. Seeing it can help to emphasize how much of a burden the adventure that your character is going on is to them.

4. Grueling

Punishing ; difficult to the point of exhaustion.

“After their long,  grueling  journey, they rewarded themselves with a hearty meal and a long, restful sleep.”

“Getting to the other side of the map would without a doubt be a  grueling  task, but it was one that the entire team was up for.”

Want to ensure that your readers know difficult the journey is on your character? Use the word grueling. This word can emphasize that not only is the journey hard, but it feels close to a punishment.

5. Exhausting

Extremely tiring .

“Since they had to plan for such an  exhausting  journey, they spent a long time beforehand making sure that they would have all the supplies they needed.”

“When he started on the road, he had been keen and bright-eyed, but by the end of the  exhausting  and challenging journey, all he wanted to do was rest.”

Something that is exhausting is more than just a little tiring. Calling the journey exhausting will help to describe both the physical state as well as the mental state your character is in when the journey is finally done.

Upward on an incline or hill ; against challenges.

“The  uphill  journey left them feeling nothing but tired by the end of it.”

“She knew that what she would find at the end of the road would be worth it, but the  uphill  climb was going to make things that much more challenging.”

The word uphill can be used literally to describe an inclined terrain your character must go up. You can also use it metaphorically to demonstrate that your character must face other challenges along the way to their destination.

7. Formidable

Causing feelings of apprehension or dread ; impressive of instilling feelings of wonder.

“He had no idea what he would find at the end of his  formidable  journey.”

“As she looked at the map in front of her, she considered what she would have to bring with her on such a  formidable  journey.”

If the journey that one of your characters is going on is quite daunting, then you can describe it as formidable. You can also use it in a slightly more positive sense to show that the journey inspires feelings of awe.

8. Intimidating

Causing a loss of confidence and inspiring feelings of timidity, fear, or anxiety .

“At first it had seemed like an easy adventure, but the more he thought about it, the more  intimidating  it became.”

“The map had seemed  intimidating  at the time, but now that she was well on her way, the road seemed much easier.”

If a journey looks like it’s going to be particularly long or hard, then it’s probably going to be pretty intimidating for the character going on it. This word will help describe the tension your character is experiencing.

Marked by difficult terrain ; challenging to travel through or across; not easy.

“The journey would be a  rough  one, and would require packing several days’ worth of supplies.”

“They would follow the  rough  road all the way to the end.”

The word rough can be used to describe the actual terrain that your characters are traveling across. You can also use it to describe the journey itself, as calling something rough means that it is challenging or not easy.

10. Satisfying

Rewarding ; causing feelings of contentment or pleasure by providing something needed.

“After such a difficult but  satisfying  journey, the team was rewarded with some good food and a few comfortable beds to sleep on.”

“She knew that despite all the challenges, the journey would be  satisfying , especially once she reached the hidden treasure.”

A difficult journey doesn’t have to be entirely negative! When your character finally reaches the end of their road, they’re likely to find a lot of satisfaction. Describing the relief and reward your characters have achieved through this journey will make it feel satisfying to your readers as well.

difficult part of journey

Ross Valory Finally Opens Up About Journey Split

Original bassist Ross Valory has had time to put his ugly split with Journey into perspective.

“What an amazing experience,” he tells Rolling Stone . “I am so blessed to have spent the better part of 50 years in a band that’s remarkable. All the fine players and singers that have come through the room that I had the privilege of performing with, including the current players. These are all brilliant, talented people, whether they are present in the band or not.”

Valory initially met Herbie Herbert when the future Journey mastermind was working as a manager of the Bay Area psych-rock band Frumious Bandersnatch. Herbert ended up in a similar position with Santana , where he met Gregg Rolie and Neal Schon . Rolie, Schon, Valory and fellow Frumious alum George Tickner formed the nucleus of Herbert’s new band, later dubbed Journey.

READ MORE: Ranking All 52 Journey Songs From the ’80s

Eight Journey albums followed before Valory left ahead of 1986’s Raised on Radio . Along the way, he co-wrote a number of songs, including the radio favorites “Anytime” and “Just the Same Way.” He then returned for another run of five albums beginning with 1998’s Trial By Fire .

The next split happened in 2020, when Valory and drummer Steve Smith were accused by Schon of attempting to stage of boardroom coup to take over the group. Valory denied it all , and countersued. Both sides later reached an out-of-court agreement that’s been described as amicable.

Visit to Donald Trump Sparked Controversy

“For me, it’s now a matter of history,” Valory says. “There was controversy and personal and business conflicts. But we worked out our differences in a relatively short time. We had a mediated settlement that everyone was happy with. And since that time, we’ve all gone our own way. The band continues to perform and do well.”

The first public fissures within the group opened in 2017 after Valory, Perry successor Arnel Pineda and Jonathan Cain visited former President Donald Trump at the White House. Schon said he wanted to keep politics – and religion – separate from their music .

“My intention there was to privately have a VIP tour of the White House, regardless of who was sitting in the Oval Office,” Valory argues. “That’s what I wanted. It was an opportunity. I wanted to see the White House and get the special tour, which I did. It was amazing. I didn’t see any of it as a political statement or an alignment, whatever.”

Ross Valory Replaced Twice by Randy Jackson

The 2020 split with Journey echoed his mid-’80s departure in that Valory was once again briefly replaced by Randy Jackson, a respected bassist who later found wider fame on American Idol . Again, Valory said he holds no ill will.

“It was pretty evident that the majority of the players wanted to take a different direction, a different approach in style – and that was their prerogative,” Valory said of the Raised on Radio era. “It’s so long ago. There’s no judgment at this point. It was probably a wrong move, but it was a short move. It was one album and one tour. There were some good songs on that album, and it did keep the band’s brand alive.”

Rather than dwell on the past, Valory has his sights set on his pending solo debut: All of the Above is scheduled to arrive on April 12 , with guest turns by Smith and early Journey drummer Prairie Prince, members of Santana, and Eric Levy of Night Ranger fame.

Valory’s past with Journey is now firmly in the past. “What an experience, from this experimental fusion band into one of the top-rated popular bands,” he concluded. “This is a band that reinvented itself twice. But to answer your question, certainly I miss it. I miss performing, and eventually I will be doing so on my own.”

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difficult part of journey

Israel-Hamas war latest: Hamas number three killed, US says - as video shows anguish after Israel's raid on hospital

The US has said Israel killed Hamas number three Marwan Issa in an operation last week. Meanwhile, the Israeli military claims 20 Hamas fighters were killed and dozens of suspects arrested in a raid on Gaza's al Shifa hospital - which the health ministry described as a war crime.

Tuesday 19 March 2024 10:55, UK

  • Israel-Hamas war

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  • US says Hamas number three Marwan Issa killed by Israel
  • Alistair Bunkall: Death is a big success for Israel
  • IDF soldiers raid al Shifa hospital in Gaza City
  • Screams of anguish in video showing aftermath of Israel's raid on hospital
  • Several killed as hospital on fire, say Palestinian health officials
  • Journalist 'beaten and detained' in raid
  • Michael Clarke : Israel under pressure as evidence grows it is committing systematic war crimes
  • Watch: Israel films storming of hospital by drone | What video tells us about the raid
  • Biden speaks to Israeli PM - their first call in 32 days

That's all for this evening, but we'll be back tomorrow with regular updates and analysis.

Scroll down to read what happened during the day.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has joined those to express their concern about Israel's planned assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Mr Trudeau was speaking with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz on Monday.

A statement from Mr Trudeau's office said he had "shared his concern" around the planned offensive "and the severe humanitarian implications for all civilians taking refuge in the area".

"He underscored the need to increase the volume of life-saving humanitarian aid for civilians and to ensure aid reaches all those in need, safely and without delay."

Christopher Lockyear, from Doctors Without Borders says any attack on Rafah would be "a disaster upon a disaster".

He tells the camera he is travelling through part of Rafah "which is incredibly crowded - we've been moving at a snail's pace for the last 10-15 minutes or so".

"There are people everywhere, there are tents and makeshift shelters to the left and right of me and there are kids literally everywhere, which is a real shock."

Mr Lockyear said: "Clearly any ground invasion into Rafah would be an absolute catastrophe.

"It doesn't bear thinking about."

As we have been reporting today, the situation in Gaza is becoming increasingly desperate, with children now starving to death in the enclave.

The UN has said famine is imminent, and the head of its  Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief body, Martin Griffiths, has condemned world leaders for failing to prevent the current state of affairs.

"Famine is imminent in Gaza," he said.

"More than one million people are at risk because they have been cut off from life-saving aid, markets have collapsed and fields have been destroyed.

"The international community should hang its head in shame for failing to stop this.

"We must flood Gaza with food and other life-saving aid. There is no time to lose.

"I renew my call to the Israeli authorities to allow complete and unfettered access for humanitarian goods.

"We know that once a famine is declared, it is way too late. We also know that, with action and goodwill, it can be averted."

This is footage filmed by a Sky News team near the al Shifa hospital earlier today.

Israel raided the hospital for the second time during the war, accusing Hamas of using it as a base.

Israel said it had killed more than 20 gunmen in the operation.

The hospital was Gaza's largest before the war and is now one of the only healthcare facilities that is even partially operational in the territory's north.

It has also been housing displaced civilians.

Israel's prime minister has agreed to send a team of officials to Washington DC so "an alternative approach" can be discussed with regards to Israel's plans for Rafah.

The news comes from US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who was speaking after a call between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu.

The team will include military intelligence and humanitarian officials but it was not clear when they would travel to the US.

Israel said last weekend that it planned to launch an assault on Rafah, but there is growing concern about the safety of civilians in the city - where more than one million people fled to after being ordered to evacuate other parts of Gaza by Israel.

The call between the two leaders also comes amid US frustration with Israel's conduct during the war, including accusations that it has prevented from getting into the enclave.

Mr Sullivan said a major ground offensive would be a "mistake" and would "further isolate Israel internationally".

Bearing in mind that Rafah is a primary entry point for aid from Egypt and Israel, he said an invasion would also "shut that down or at least put it at grave risk right at the moment when it is sorely needed".

Looking across the rest of Gaza, Mr Sullivan said a "humanitarian crisis" had descended.

"Anarchy reigns in areas that Israel's military has cleared but not stabilised," he said.

The death of Marwan Issa is a big success for Israel, writes  Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall .

First reported a week ago by the Jerusalem Post after an air strike in central Gaza, there was no official confirmation until tonight.

It's unclear why the US confirmed his death before Israel.

Issa is the deputy Commander of Hamas's military wing and would have been involved in the planning of the October 7th attacks. He is normally regarded as the number three in Hamas.

Issa has the nickname "shadow man" for his ability to evade Israeli forces.

The whereabouts of Hamas's leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, remains unknown, likewise Mohammed Deif, the commander of the military wing.

It's thought they might be hiding in the southern city of Rafah, one reason why Israel wants to send ground troops in, though if Issa was located in central Gaza then it's possible others might be there too.

The US says Israel killed Hamas number three Marwan Issa in an operation last week.

Sky News has approached the IDF for confirmation but their response was: "The IDF has no comment on the matter."

When we covered reports of the death on 11 March, Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari had said they were awaiting confirmation.

Below is the last-known photo of Issa, taken at a 2015 security conference organised by a Hamas-aligned organisation.

For those following the situation in the Middle East, one of the big questions is when - or if - Israel will launch its assault on Rafah.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during the weekend that the assault was still necessary to "eliminate the remaining terrorist battalions in Rafah".

But for those who are trying to arrange aid deliveries - and those who are desperately waiting for them - the lack of certainty is already risking lives.

United Nations humanitarian coordinator Jamie McGoldrick said aid operations in Gaza cannot be planned more than two or three days ahead at the moment because of the instability and uncertainty.

"It would be a really difficult scenario for us to envisage the possibility of hundreds of thousands of people being forced from Rafah because of the incursion.

"We are not in a position to contingency plan that. We're not in a position to pre-position shelter, material, food, medical supplies and especially water... It will be a real problem for us." 

Why does this matter?

It is already extremely difficult to get aid into Gaza due to the security situation and Israeli restrictions.

In desperation, a small group of countries has resorted to dropping aid from the air and deliveries have finally been arriving by sea - but neither of these makes up for the capacity that should be brought in by road.

And, as has been confirmed today, the need is immense - the UN says famine is "imminent" in northern Gaza and people in the rest of the enclave are struggling to access food.

Mr McGoldrick said: "If there was to be an incursion, that (aid) system we have, which is already precarious and intermittent, would then be broken."

Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall  is in Jerusalem and says the US and Israeli leaders would have had a lot to discuss during their 45-minute call.

"We have seen over recent weeks, in the absence of communication between the two leaders, quite a public spat between Israel and Washington, the US president making it very clear that he is not happy with the way that this war is being fought and the lack of humanitarian aid that is getting into Gaza.

"For his part, the Israeli prime minister has been defiant and adamant that Israel will pursue its war aims, specifically, the release of all the hostages and the elimination of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. If that means going into the southern city of Rafah, then that is what the Israelis plan to do."

Over the weekend we learnt that Israel is still planning to push ahead with an assault on Rafah, in Gaza's south.

The US, Israel's staunchest ally, has said it will not support such an operation without the Israelis presenting a credible plan to ensure the safety of civilians.

Bunkall said an assault on Rafah does not seem to be imminent but that the world is "increasingly concerned that Israel is gearing up for it", with all of the humanitarian consequences that could have.

Meanwhile, ceasefire talks have resumed in Qatar, with a senior Israeli delegation flying there today.

"The expectation is that they might take a long time, maybe a couple of weeks if they're going to be successful.

"But Hamas has lowered its demands, Israel is still saying that are being unrealistic in what they are expecting. But there is certainly, it seems, room for negotiation. And as long as that stays the case, then there will remain hope that a new ceasefire deal can be agreed at some point."

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COMMENTS

  1. Even the longest journey starts with a single step (quotes)

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    Meaningful Life is a Journey Quotes. "If you can't fly, then run. If you can't run, then walk. If you can't walk, then crawl. But by all means, keep moving.". - Martin Luther King, Jr. "Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.". - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

  6. Origin of "The first step is always the hardest"

    According to the The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs the saying is popularly associated with the story of Saint Danis:. The first step is always the hardest:. Meaning: Making a start is often the most difficult part of a journey; Origin: This proverb was first recorded c. 1596 in the form of "The first stretch (of a journey) is the worst." It is popularly associated with the story of ...

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    The in-between is the hardest part of any journey. This transition zone is a difficult place to be because it is neither an adventure nor home. The in-between is the hardest part of any journey where we are asked to wait and listen—not to act or even react. It demands a courageous patience and a capacity to endure the unknown.

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  18. Hero's journey

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    If a journey is difficult, then that can require a serious test of endurance. Describing the journey as a trying one can emphasize how difficult the journey was. You can use this word with some flexibility as well since a journey could be physically or emotionally trying. 2. Long Definition. Extending a significant distance or spanning a great ...

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