Many years ago, struggling with health issues, I had many challenges that kept me stuck and overwhelmed. In my mind, my problems were huge and not solvable by anybody.
With that kind of mindset, I continued living a life of desperation and difficulty. Today, I consider myself healed and able to help those who are travelling the same path I have.
There are times when we are not able to fight the battles alone; that is the time to seek help from a kind friend or professional.
It’s easy to get discouraged by feelings of hopelessness and despair. It can cause a person to shut down, avoiding the problems they are facing. The question is: how can we find the courage to challenge the problems and fears we are most afraid of?
Accept discomfort and pain
When we start dealing with multiple life challenges, we can almost predict having some pain and discomfort.
“The pain you feel today will be the strength you feel tomorrow.” There is a lot of truth in this quote.
Do you want a better job? Then you have to accept the doubts and discomfort of job searching, interviewing or training for a new career.
There is nothing gained without some discomfort, yet, many people are so focused on instant gratification, which sabotages their ability to gain the lifestyle they are looking for.
Why are you running away?
One of the main reasons we run away or ignore problems is a lack of confidence in ourselves, and the ability to tackle them. I found that confidence is built by trying new things, meeting new people and helping others who might have similar or different challenges.
When you feel confident, you act despite any fears or concerns. You recognize that this is something that needs to be done and it’s up to you to do it.
Another set of challenges many of us face are beliefs we acquired in childhood. These beliefs are not serving us anymore, as we are intelligent adults with our views on life.
Find a support system
The journey of life doesn’t have to be lonely. Other people in your community are on similar paths, and motivated to accomplish the same goals you are. There are people out there who have already walked the paths you are just now embarking on.
When I needed help, there were plenty of people willing to lend me a hand. You just have to ask for help.
If you struggle with self-confidence or self-belief, or both, you might not even try to face things because it will look to you like an impossible task. This is why you must tackle these mental roadblocks before you can address other problems.
Whatever life issues we have to face, finding a therapist who can provide tools you need to have can lead to a purposeful and productive life. Ask your doctor to recommend a local professional.
I wish you a healing and prosperous life.
Ranka Burzan owns a professional organizing company based in Powell River and has written several books on reducing clutter and becoming more organized. For information, go to solutionsorganizing.com.
