“I am grateful for all of my problems challenges. After each one was overcome, I became stronger and more able to meet those that were still to come. I grew in all my difficulties.”

— J.C. Penney, businessman
Brian Tracy
Quote of the Day
September 25, 2011

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There can be:
No night without day.
No good without bad
No cold without warm

There can be:
No difficult without ease.

But there NO problems.
There are ONLY challenges.  Remember my column on Eliminating Negative Words?  Replace the word problem in the above quote and it rings true.  The object is to find the blessing in your challenge.  I understand how difficult that can be when you’re in the middle of the storm.  You can’t see land.
You can’t see light.

If the ONLY blessing you can take away, the only life raft you can cling to is this:
That EVERY other time once the storm has cleared and you’ve had time to reflect you HAVE INDEED seen the blessings,
then cling to that.

If you’ve come through in the past, stronger for having gone through the gale why do you think this time will be any different?  Ya know what?  It won’t!

Here’s an example of a challenge someone may have faced:
You have a car accident.  Your car is totaled.  Oh my God.  What’s the blessing there?

Ya know what?  This happened to me!  The blessing?  ABSOLUTELY no injuries to either of us.  Not even a bump or a bruise.  And I got a new car.

See?  I’ve learned to look for blessings in all of my challenges.  I have a wonderful teacher if I ever slip too.

We can ALL take a lesson.  There is ALWAYS a blessing.  We simply have to spend time find it.  If we find it the first time we’ll be able to locate it quicker the next time.  I’m well aware that when we’re in the ACTUAL storm it can be mighty difficult to find land, to see the blessings.  When challenges arise in my own life I’ll be the first to admit that my immediate intention is:
Oh no!

After centering myself and relaxing, taking several deep breaths I can return to a calm.  Understanding that while I wasn’t expecting what happened, I can trust in the divine that in the end there will be a gift.  I may NOT find it, but God ONLY EVER has our best interest at heart.

You may have heard before:
That God will not give us more than we can handle.

I SINCERELY believe that to be true.  If you seem to be hit again and again with challenges; this may seem counterproductive; but look up and say Thank you!  And say it sincerely.  God is always looking over us, protecting us and if you’re being loaded down, it ONLY means that God knows you’re stronger than you think you are.

That can be your blessing.

Really?!
REALLY?!  You’re saying.

You expect me to thank God for my challenges?  Are on crack?  I know you’re thinking it.  Why not put into words?

If God DOES ONLY give us what we can handle then doesn’t it also stand to reason that if we’re being hit again and again, then HE must know something we don’t. does it not?

Okay.  Let me ask you this.  For those that believe there is a Higher Power, a Divinity watching over us:
Have you ever reached the end of your proverbial rope and FINALLY given up?  Looked up and shouted:
Enough!  Take this away from me.

If you have, have you felt the burden you were carrying, the grudge you couldn’t let go of, the pain that wouldn’t go away, suddenly, mysteriously leave your soul?

Yes?  Then how is thanking God for the gift of realizing you’re stronger then you know any different?

God has our best interest at heart.
God is not vindictive
God does not punish.

God is love.
God only wants what’s best for us, and sometimes what’s best for us is to go through a challenge to come out stronger.  Remember:
No night without day
No good without bad

and
No ease without challenge.

Be Happy!  Be Well!  Be Positive!
Blessings to you.
—
Chris