We all go through difficulties and challenges in life, and how they shape us is entirely up to us. At times we may feel beaten down by life, or resentful and bitter about the injustices in the world. Sometimes we are seduced into a mindset of fear, and we become overly cautious because of the perceived dangers lurking around every corner. However, there are certain kinds of people who not only survive their challenges, they actually thrive because of them.
Have you ever wondered what makes the difference between these types of people? What makes a person able to overcome challenges and come out the other side better than they were before? There are a few key traits that are commonly found in these individuals.
First is the power of belief. Your beliefs will inspire certain actions and reactions to your life experiences. If you believe that a challenge is too big, insurmountable, or unchangeable, you won’t even try to overcome it, or if you do try, you probably won’t give it your full effort. On the other hand, if you fully believe that you can overcome it, your attempts to do so will be much stronger. Also important is your belief in yourself. Even if you theoretically believe that a problem can be solved, you still won’t try unless you believe in your own ability to be the solver of it.
The wonderful thing about beliefs is that they can be changed with a little bit of persistence. If you don’t already have a strong belief in yourself, you can start changing this by saying repeatedly, “I choose to believe in myself. I can handle anything. I can overcome any challenge that life throws at me. I’ve got this.”
Think about the difficulties that you have already overcome in your lifetime, and allow those memories to encourage and strengthen you. With enough repetition, your belief in yourself will continue to get stronger.
The next important trait to develop is determination. Think about your usual reaction to challenges when they arise. Do you feel discouraged and overwhelmed, or do you clench your jaw and decide that you will find a way around the obstacle no matter what it takes?
Determination is often the only thing that will keep you going when a situation seems to be hopeless. The best way to build up your determination is to simply decide that you will get to where you want to be, and you will accept nothing less than that. Keep making this decision daily, and nothing will be able to hold you back.
Patience is the third crucial piece of the puzzle. While some challenges can be overcome quickly, others may take time. If you don’t have patience, you will probably give up too soon. One good way to develop patience is to keep saying to yourself, “I can wait. It will take as long as it takes, but I’ll still get there no matter what.” Make peace with the obstacles in your path, knowing that they will not be there forever.
Developing your strengths of belief, determination, and patience will enable you to overcome any challenges you may face in life, big or small. Even better, you will empower yourself to actually thrive and become stronger and more confident because of them.
