Struggle for Success

"If you've never failed, you've never lived." I heard that by listening to a you tube video today and I had an epiphany.

My failures make me who I am. My failures give me the drive to strive for more. My failures will eventually make me great. I am the type of person, who gets very upset when I make a mistake. Well, not so much anymore. Now, I just tell myself to get over myself. On the other hand, this video motivated me to keep trying to succeed. This is not to say that I was ever planning on giving up.

Have you ever felt like you just want to stop struggling? As Oprah said in the Color Purple, "I've had to fight all of my life..." At some point, I accepted it as the norm. I never realized that struggling will make you stronger. My ongoing struggles have allowed me to come to a place of success and satisfaction. While struggle is not the key to success, it has been an avenue for contentment for me. I know what it means to want and not have. I understand what it means to grieve for mistakes that have caused life changes. I have experienced watching a dream die and be resuscitated back to life. Through everything, I know that if I had never struggled, I would have never lived.

I want to hear about your struggles as I share some of my own. This blog is not only to inspire but to share. Sharing with the right motive is therapeutic and will offer emotional support throughout your journey to success.

How to Overcome Your Struggle

1. Identify and clarify your issues. If you have multiple issues, choose the issue that is most important.

2. Analyze your problem. Ask yourself some tough questions. -When did you start having this problem? How have you contributed to your problem? What can you do at this moment to minimize your issue? Who can help you with your problem? etc.

3. Develop a plan. Write down your plan and revisit it to check your progress.

4. Implement the plan.

5. Eliminate any negative influences, and stay focused.

6. Find support in a way that is suitable to you.

7. Make revisions to your plan. Ask yourself: Is what I'm doing working? What can I do to make it better?

8. Pray. Some would advise you to do this first. However, I believe that you must take some responsibility by attempting to help yourself and God will do the rest. Regardless of when you pray, pray your way through it. You may need to go through this process several times before you are successful.

The order of this process may be different for you depending on personality, values, and lifestyle. As you go through this process with various issues, remember that success is at the end of your struggle.