I understand that many of you might be wondering why and how could you ever appreciate your difficulties. Right?
Actually, How many times have you found yourself cursing for all the bad fortune around you? How many times did you wonder why something had to happen to you? Did you feel sorry for yourself at the time?
If you ask me I would have to answer that it has happened many times. Yes, I have gone through some really hard times in my life. I remember myself crying, complaining to others, feeling sorry for myself for what I had to go through and wondering what I had done wrong to deserve all this bad fortune.
Anyway, I am sure I am not the only one. Actually, I am sure most of you have gone through hard times. Different experiences, different situations, different problems but you went through something. Even if you didn’t, you will. Count on it!
Why It’s Normal to Feel Bad and Not Appreciate your Difficulties
Sometimes we might be the victims in one situation and we might deserve, or even seek for understanding and sympathy from others. That is absolutely normal and understood. This is a human need.
“Each one of us has lived through some devastation, some loneliness, some weather superstorm or spiritual superstorm, when we look at each other we must say, I understand. I understand how you feel because I have been there myself. We must support each other and empathize with each other because each of us is more alike than we are unalike.”
Maya Angelou
Feeling bad when a new difficulty comes our way is normal. Difficulties are in fact challenges that shake our world and make us feel uncomfortable. Sometimes people around us understand how hard this must be to us and even encourage us to continue feeling bad and sorry about ourselves.
But, does the fact that our bad response to difficulties is understandable by ourselves and others actually help us?
Don’t get me wrong. We all understand that facing difficulties makes us feel uncomfortable and of course there is no reason to feel happy about it. Doing so would mean that we lose the whole point. That we overlook the problem, show denial and even feel some kind of toxic positivity. None of them is helpful in any way.
Related: You Strive For Perfection? Successful Aren’t Perfectionists
Better Face The Fact that Difficulties will Never Stop Coming Your Way
One thing is for sure. No matter how much we want to, no matter what we do, we can never avoid difficulties from coming into our lives. One way or another we always have challenges to deal with.
We have no choice whether we will face them or not because we just cannot escape from them. The only choice we have is how we will choose to deal with them when they show up.
“If you’re going through hell, keep going.”
Winston Churchill
Some people choose to step away as much as possible, choose to play the victim, don’t deal with them nor search for a solution.
Some others choose to face the difficulty, embrace the new experience, understand the feelings generated while doing so and grow themselves through this. Acceptance comes along with gratitude for the lesson gained, meaning that through acceptance you may also appreciate your difficulties.
Everyone has a choice to make
“The future rewards those who press on. I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I don’t have time to complain. I’m going to press on.”
Barack Obama
Related: Do you Lack of Self-Confidence? 5 Tips to Boost it
5 Reasons to Prove the Importance of Facing Difficulties and Why You should Appreciate them
1. Helps us Become more Self-aware
Going through difficulties helps us to understand ourselves better. We come in touch with our feelings, our true needs and internal strength. We understand who we are, where we are, what we are doing and what we are capable of.
“Expecting difficulties is wise, if that usually gives you the strength to continue, and foolish, if that usually takes away the courage to begin.”
Mokokoma Mokhonoana
2. Inspire Gratitude
When a difficulty appears we have the chance to appreciate everything we have and we were not paying enough attention to. Difficulties sometimes are a good wakeup call to understand all those we are missing when they are just right there but we are far too busy to see.
And, to feel gratitude means that you are grateful for everythink, you are even thankful for your difficulties.
“When you meet obstacles with gratitude, your perception starts to shift, resistance loses its power, and grace finds a home within you.”
Oprah Winfrey.
3. New Experiences – Chance for Personal Growth
Difficulties are new experiences through which we usually learn new things, grow wiser and stronger. Difficulties come our way and help us evolve to a better version of ourselves. How could you not feel thankful for your difficulties when they help you grow?
“Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.”
Napoleon Hill
4. Identify / Appreciate the Easy
Going through something really difficult helps us to identify the easy when we see it. We will be able to understand when things will get better since they will be easier.
5. Teach Responsibility
To successfully deal with a difficulty we should take responsibility for our actions, our thoughts and our emotions towards it.
“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
Learn to Appreciate Your Difficulties
Difficulties in life no matter how hard they are can work to our advantage. Identifying difficulties as challenges and seeing all the opportunities they can offer us can change our way through life. Situations and circumstances will no longer have the same power on us.
You should apprecieate your difficulties, because without difficulties and obstacles to overcome, life would be a boring flat line. Life has everything, sunny days and stormy days, pleasure and suffering , beauty and pain. Surviving the stormy days of our life can only make us stronger and ready to enjoy the sunny days to the fullest.
“Everybody wants happiness, nobody wants pain, but you can’t have a rainbow without a little rain.”
Unknown
“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”
Haruki Murakami
Excellent blog, difficulties are a part of life and we need to accept and embrace them if we are to live fully. Thank you for this!
We definitely cannot avoid them Kayleigh. I am glad you liked it. Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
So much truth in this post and an inspiring post as well. We will always have difficulties, and they do in fact make us stronger, and more grateful!
Difficulties should inspire us to become a better version of ourselves. Thank you for commenting 🙂
Lovely post on a lovely topic. And it’s true that life is pain, no matter how rich, poor, healthy, or sick we are. And to quote an often-used phrase: “Wish not for an easy life, but the strength to conquer a hard one.” Thanks for this post!
It is one of my favourite phrases Stuart! I am glad you liked it. Thank you for stepping by!
Great points! Difficulties make us stronger.
Thank you Jamie! I am glad you liked it.
Difficulties give birth to some of our greatest strengths.
That is my belief also. You never know how strong you are until the only thing you can be is that.Thank you Annette!
It’s part of our life and process to succeed. I always like to go through it and learn more experience.
Through difficultiew we grow wiser and stronger. Thank you for stepping by Fransic!
Love this! I definitely think that there’s something to be learnt from all difficulties that come our way, and sometimes it takes something bad happening for you to realise how good you had it – at least with me. It definitely helps with my gratitude! Thanks for sharing, this was a really insightful read.
I am so happy you liked it! Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
Great post, difficulties shape who we are and make us stronger, learning to live with them means we grow.
Exactly Sarah, the difficulties we gilo through are a valuable part of our story! I am glad you liked it. Thank you ❤️
I really appreciate this post! You’re so right in saying how difficulties help us grow and develop and it’s okay to feel bad about them xx
Thank you Della! I am glad you liked it 🙂
This was a needed blog post. It was very inspirational anf encouraging. So many people are going through hell, but it is during these times that we should count our blessings and be thankful for each of them. “If go through hell, keep going” and i will add, keep praying with a thankful heart.
I am glad you found it inspirational and encouraging Kevin! Thank you so much for reading and commenting 🙂
Thank you Jodie!I am glad you liked it 🙂
Thank you for this! it is such an optimistic way to start the day, considering how much our hardships can hopefully teach – both about ourselves and about appreciation for all we have
I like seeing the positive aspects of life and I try to write my posts the way I would like to read them. I am glad you found it optimistic! Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
I love this post Eri. I agree that we should be thankful for difficulties. Challenges are important and a life without challenges does not exist. If we look back, we will realize that the challenges and struggles rather than the joyful moments shaped us into who we are today. I always see difficulties and challenges as a stepping stone, an opportunity to grow and push myself to the limit. Thank you for sharing!
Totally agree with you Ruth! What we are most is due to the challenges we faced. Seeing difficulties as challenges is the right way! Thank you for sharing your view on them and on my post of course |o| 🙂
I am often NOT thankful for my difficulties; I recognize and enjoy that the stumbles and mountains help me grow but I have ever actually sat back and considered who I would be if I did not come against troubles.
I do not think I would be as strong as I am today, or as capable, so thank you for sharing some important reasons why it is healthy and positive to extend some gratitude toward the difficulties I encounter. 🙂
Truth be told we all feel bad about our difficulties the moment we go through them, but at the end of day we grow due to the difficulties ww went through and survived. Thank you Jaya for reading it and for sharing your opinion about it!
There is nothing better than feeling grateful for everything in your life – the good and the bad. I strongly believe it takes being grateful for amazing things to start happening in your life. Thanks for sharing!
Olivia | http://www.oliviaandbeauty.com
I also believe so Olivia. We might be having everything but feel bad because we miss one thing and fogret how grateful we should be. Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts on it!
For a while after falling ill I could never understand why I was given this difficult journey, 8 years on and still fighting, I’ve come to realise to be grateful for whatever comes my way as it builds me as a person. I’m super grateful for my life and whose in it. I’m more self-aware of my strength. Love this post, thank you so much for sharing Xo
Elle – ellegracedeveson.com
Thank you Elle! I wish you the best for your health. You are stronger after your fights. It was great to hear from you ❤️
This is a great post! I think difficulties are always important when you look back and realise that they made you get to where you are today. Thanks for sharing x
I am glad you liked it Eleanor! Thank you for commenting 🙂
This post is so important! I think from those difficult times you can learn so much and I know I have. They have also taught me to never stop achieving my goals and put myself first!
Exactly Amie, our difficulties are our great teachers in this school of life. Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
Such an inspiring post.
I love this way of thinking about difficulties in our lives. We can’t change the circumstances, but we can change how we respond to it.
Also love the quotes!
I am glad you liked it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on it!
It’s certainly impossible to avoid hard times! Although going through my mental health difficulties were and still are exhausting, it has made me much more aware of the signs of other people’s and my own mental health when it’s starting to go downhill x
Through difficulties we all struggle but come out of them much stronger and self aware. Thank you Caroline for sharing your experience and thoughts 🙂
I got a bit emotional reading this as it was exactly what I needed to be reminded of right now. I think the healthy dose of reality that realizing hard times are something we will encounter at various points in our lives is much needed. It’s good to know that we have and will overcome our struggles. Thanks for this!
I also got emotional while writing it Molly. I think I tend to write what I need to read and I also wanted to remind myself how important it is to appreciate everything in life, even our difficulties. Thank you for your comment!
I am glad you liked it and found it helpful Lou! Thank you 💓
I completely agree with all the points you’ve mentioned. Life would be very boring if we didn’t have difficulties and challenges to overcome.
Thank you Kelly 😘
This was a wonderful post. I went through a particularly rough year in 2020 after my Grandad suddenly passed away at the end of 2019. After his death, it felt like my life spiralled out of control, and everything was going wrong. I agree that difficulties make us become more self-aware and have certainly made me feel grateful for the good times!
I am glad you liked it. Thank you for sharing your experience with us!
I think my problem is, because I suffered relentless racist abuse during my childhood, causing me to be suicidal by the time I was eight years old, I’ve been trained to expect difficulties to be never ending. I can handle most difficulties nowadays, but when they start to stack up I can crack and become suicidal again, sometimes without warning. I don’t think I could ever find something to be grateful for from my childhood difficulties, given the legacy of issues it left me with
I am sorry for the hard time you had during your childhood.
It takes quite a bit of determination to see difficulties as learning experiences but if you can, then I think they sometimes redirect us down a better path.
It is hard to be able to do it but if you are able to you see world under another perspective. Thank you for reading and commenting!
Great post! This is something that I don’t see discussed enough, and you do it wonderfully! Love the quotes you used, as well!
I am glad you liked it. Thank you for commenting 🙂
Certain difficulties are there to help sharpe us and our future. Such a lovely post.
I am glad you liked it. Thank you for commenting!
I remember when I was younger and I didn’t understand that each person goes through difficult times now that I am adult myself I understand that difficult times will happen and it’s just life.
That is life for sure! thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
Hello, this is a great and honest post! I really enjoyed it! Difficulties are always going to happen but it’s how we handle them that matters. Thanks for sharing! Alicia
Exactly Alicia! Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
This is a really great post. And one that I needed to read today! You’re absolutely right. I love that Maya Angelou quote! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I am happy you found it helpful Ellie. Thank you for commenting!
Love your use of quotes on this post. Very inspiring, thank you!
That is what I aim to Sue, to inspire myself and the readers. Thank you for letting me know I made it a bit 🙂 Really appreciate your feedback!
Exactly, spot on! Difficulties make us stronger and wiser. Love the ideas you organized here. I also like the quotes you placed after each one. Thanks for sharing this article!
https://www.lifebeginsattwenty.com/
I am happy you liked it. Thank you for commenting ❤️
Great post Eri! I felt like you were talking to me at some points haha. I’ve had a difficult week this week, health wise, in and out of doctors appointments. But I know that it will make me stronger and I’m thankful there are things they can do to help. Thanks for sharing your words of wisdom!
So sorry to hear about your health problems. Our health is the most important thing in life and we so often forget about it. Take care, as I am sure you do, and everything will be ok in the end! Thank you for your comment 🙂
This is a great post and reminder. This was something that I needed to read. I have been struggling with handing my difficulties. Thank you for sharing.
I am glad you found it helpful! Thank you for commenting 🙂
Great article! So important to have these reminders. Also, I love the Maya Angelou quote she’s such an inspiration..
I am glad you liked it! thank you!
This is a great post. Gratitude is a powerful practise. Difficulties are what challenge you and make you stronger. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren – bournemouthgirl
Thank you for commenting 🙂
As much as it’s hard to accept, I agree, difficulties can be weirdly be a positive sometimes. It’s definitely made be more self aware and made me more grateful of life. Great post! xx
Thank you Anissa ❤️
It’s out of these challenging times, we learn, we grow. It’s the time we should be just as thankful!
Fantastic post and very thought provoking. It’s got me thinking about how I handle my own difficulties in life why I find it hard to admit when I’m struggling. I often tone down how I’m feeling to make others feel more comfortable.
I am really glad you liked it! Thank you for commenting 🙂