“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.”

–Charles Dickens

Despite popular opinion, every cloud does have a silver lining. For those who have the awareness, the worst of times is an opportunity for “the best of times.” Challenge is an essential part of life. We are designed to challenge the moment we make that first significant journey through the birth canal.  Through struggle, we learn to thrive.

We are amazing beings. We have far more capacity to weather hardship then we give ourselves credit. Mental “resilience tools” help us navigate the turbulent challenges. Those with greater resilience have this in common: they utilize five distinct tools that help them stay the course of hardship.

1. Resilient people understand hidden value within challenge. They may not like their circumstances. They sense that challenge contains opportunity for positive, life-enhancing change and contentment.
2. They set simple, clear goals and stay focused on them.
3. They know what makes them afraid and push past their fears, taking action. They see how fear immobilizes and diminishes their natural ability to be creative problem solvers.
4. They tap into previous life experiences where they overcame challenge. They use that energy to give them strength and propel them through this difficulty.
5. They maintain hope by looking outside themselves for inspiration from others who thrived through hardship, and even flourished despite hardship. They latch on to a role model.

According to research in the field of positive psychology, a number of positive life changes (i.e. a deeper appreciation of life, a shift in life priorities, and enhanced spirituality, relationships, and self-reliance) can result from a broad range of hardships.

If you are in a difficult circumstance, here are a few things to consider.

• While sometimes hard to find, value and meaning lie hidden in most hardships, including the big ones: surviving cancer, military combat, heart attack, bereavement and other traumatic life experiences. Where is the hidden value in your circumstances?
• Picking a goal and sticking to it when in hardship is like driving at night in a heavy fog.  As long as you can see the road illuminated before you, keep driving. You will eventually come to your destination.
• Difficult times demand difficult choices. Your core values lie beneath your choices. What are you wrestling with? Which values will you choose to honor now? With what did you overcome in a previous circumstance?
• Look to others for inspiration. Who inspires you? Who made it through difficulties, maybe even in spite of difficulties?

You will get through this difficult part of your journey. You are naturally resilient and capable of creatively navigating the most turbulent of times. You can do this!

(c) Maren Beckman, 2010