Have you ever noticed that life doesn’t seem to be fair?
How come some people are living the “high life” of ease and pleasure?
While so many others are struggling just to get by. (I spent years and years in this group and it sucked!)
Have you ever really spent time to think about it and what you can do to change your situation?
What do you think about? Is your life a struggle?
Have you been conditioned to believe that life is a struggle? (I know I was for so many years)
If you think it is, then this is what will unfold and if you don’t, it won’t.
But is it that simple?
I believe that your life is the sum total of your thoughts and beliefs about life.
If you were taught that life will be a struggle, every experience you have will be framed within this thinking.
Instead of being open-minded about what life throws at you, you will automatically be expecting bad things to happen.
Do you know anyone like that? (maybe it’s you)
If you spend time just expecting bad things to happen, this is called a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Of course, bad things do happen but we can pre-empt negative occurrences.
Machiavelli, a philosopher of choice for people who struggle.
Typical sayings such as “it’s a dog eat dog world” or “you get nothing for nothing” suggests an attitude of negativity.
Many people do not realize how much their thinking affects the quality of their life. (Read that again!)
I’m not saying that life is always easy, life is a challenge. No one has a problem free life!
When we struggle against the natural rhythms of life, we create resistance and opposition.
This is what ultimately leads to struggle.
With struggle, there is no joy and rarely any reward.
In fact, for some people struggle is the reward. They are a little lost without it. (Does this make sense?)
There is comfort in what you know. (even if it is a struggle)
They struggle through life sacrificing their own needs and falling to bed exhausted every night.
They justify this joyless existence by saying things like, “that’s life”.
If you believe that life is meant to be a struggle ask yourself how this belief helps you.
Does it make you happier? I doubt it.
If you create unnecessary struggle and stress for yourself, you are in the majority.
As adults, many of us are passing stressful struggles onto our kids. (Is that what you want for your kids? I doubt it!)
What to do
1) Identify struggle in your life
- Is struggle a programmed response in your life?
- You may be responding negatively to life without even realizing it.
- Forcing yourself to be a certain way or do a certain job because “that’s just how life is”, will never promote happiness.
2) Increase pleasure and fun
- Look for beauty everywhere. It could be the sound of birds singing or the sun shining.
- Treat yourself often.
- Plan a day every now and then you get to do nothing or do what you love doing. (Maybe take time for that hobby you love or you might even look at starting that business you’ve always dreamed of)
3) Don’t be so serious
- Laugh more. See the funny side of life.
- Laughter releases endorphins and relieves pain whilst boosting your immune system. Spend the evening at a comedy club or watch a comedy on television.
- Serotonin levels affect our sense of optimism, confidence and self-esteem.
- Learn to lighten up.
4) Analyse your attitude
- What is your philosophy in life?
- Do you see struggle and sweat as noble, natural and inevitable?
- Is the alternative being lazy and apathetic?
- If you have been raised on struggle, it may take time to reprogram your attitudes for a more carefree existence.
- Let go of the idea that relaxed people cannot be super achievers.
Stop trying to blow at the sails of your boat to get across the lake.
Take the time to relax and enjoy the scenery.
Sooner or later a natural gust of wind will take you where you want to be.
Just remember to keep your hands on the wheel to steer the boat.
Keep your thoughts positive and steer towards your dreams.
- Duane Eberhard
