Celebrate your struggles

The other day I got the following note from Neale Donald Walsch:

On this day of your life, Hilda, I believe God wants you to know...that it is okay to be at a place of struggle. Struggle is just another word for growth.
 
Even the most evolved beings find themselves in a place of struggle now and then. In fact, struggle is a sure sign to them that they are expanding; it is their indication of real and important progress.
 
The only one who doesn't struggle is the one who doesn't grow. So if you are struggling right now, see it as a terrific sign -- and celebrate your struggle.

Now typically, I really like all of NDW's notes, but this one stuck in my mind because I had also been reading Lance's post on Lessons from the Mountain, and I saw some corelations between the two.  It got me to thinking about how our struggles are usually blessings in disguise.  In fact, I believe they are always blessings in disguise.  It's just we might not always remember to look for the blessing...

I believe that when things don't work out they way we hoped they would, it's for a good reason.  It may be that the not getting what you were looking for leads you to getting something even better.  Something that you would never have imagined for yourself, and only became possible because your original plan went awry.  That happens alot (or so I hear), and it's wonderful when it does.

But even if it doesn't all turn out magically wonderful, there's still a blessing in the struggle.  And that blessing is the lesson that you learned.  And whether you choose to get it or not, there is always a lesson (or several) to be learned in every challenging experience.  So the blessing is there for the taking - whether you accept that blessing is all up to you...

I suspect you neither want nor welcome struggle.  I know I certainly don't.  I want a life that is easy and struggle-free.  But I accept that life will have ups and downs.  And the rougher times build my character and my stamina.  And they provide a contrast so that I fully recognise and appreciate the easier times. 

So while it's probably too big an ask to say "welcome your struggles" - I wouldn't welcome any of my past struggles if they decided to show up again in another disguise - it is very important to celebrate them.  They have contributed to who you are today, they have shaped you and your life as it is now, and they have made you stronger. 

And the new struggles - current and to come - will continue that process. Your evolution will come out of them.  Because we grow and stretch more when we are pinned to our collars than when we sail easily through life. 

Plus, we appreciate the good times much more, giving us another great reason to celebrate them.  When you celebrate your struggles, you won't forget to celebrate your fortunes.  And then all of life is a reason to celebrate : )

Comments

[Lance]

Hi Hilda,

What a wonderful post! And I find much comfort in the Neale Donald Walsch note. I feel it saying to me that it's okay struggle, as difficult as it may seem. And then, that we can rise out of that struggle, and end up in a place greater than had we not had the struggle at all - how empowering! Hilda, thank you so much for this. I have something I'm struggling through right now, a very personal speech I'll be giving to a group of about 100 people. And I'm struggling with getting it pieced together - and if I should be daring - or more conservative. This all is helping me, and for that I am truly thankful. And I'm also grateful for the link to my site, this is an honor indeed.

[Hilda]

Hi Lance,

I'm glad you got something from it. Your Lessons from the Mountain was a comfort to me too. I switched mountains a year ago, and the one I'm on now doesn't have a clear cut a path as the other, but somehow it feels more right.

I always try to remember that struggle equals growth and expansion, it helps to get through it ;-) Good luck with your speech, I'm sure you'll hit the perfect balance.

H.

PS, your Mountains post has also inspired my Thought for the coming week...