When things are going well, improving your circumstances may not be a priority. You might be focused on maintaining your current situation or not thinking about it at all. However, during periods of struggle, your thoughts often dwell on the misery, wondering when things will improve. You may feel desperate for something to go right and might even give up hope, accepting your current reality. Nonetheless, no matter your situation, improvement is always possible.
You need to realize that you are in control of how you feel and are responsible for taking action, regardless of external circumstances. You might be in a difficult situation while others seem to have it better. That’s life. Life is unfair—it always has been and always will be. Accepting this and focusing on yourself is crucial. What you do in these situations is up to you. Do you want to remain miserable, or do you want to see what happens if you start your day with hope instead of misery? A change in perspective can have a massive impact on one's life.
Some people had difficult upbringings but later used those experiences as lessons. They didn’t blame their parents or use their childhood circumstances as excuses. Instead, they learned from them, developing resilience to navigate tough situations. This experience helped them endure hardships and become stronger individuals.
There’s no denying that when your life is in shambles, you feel despair. Deciding to change comes with obstacles and setbacks. It’s not a straightforward journey from point A to point B. It’s a process. When you hear stories of famous people who struggled before achieving success, their transformation didn’t happen quickly. It was difficult, time-consuming, and required tremendous dedication. Change is rarely overnight; it can even take years.
There was a philosopher in ancient Rome called Gaius Musonius Rufus who was exiled three times. Every time he was exiled, it didn’t overwhelm him, he accepted his fate and did what he could. He did his best with what he was given. With time, he improved his situation and himself in the process. By changing his perspective and embracing the challenge, he avoided wallowing. He used the obstacles as fuel to improve and overcome the issues.
If you're facing a tough situation and can’t see a positive outcome, remember that it takes time for the smoke to clear. Don’t give up. Look for opportunities and change your perspective to clear the fog. It will be challenging, with obstacles and setbacks, but you’ll emerge stronger. Take it one step at a time, day by day. You’ll be on your way to a better version of yourself, steadily improving.
Take care.