Overcoming the hurdles of life

EVERY now and then we go through a time, a phase, or a moment perhaps, when we lose hope, feel exhausted or stuck- in a rut, if I must add. How do you feel? Or what do you do about it?

I say slow down. Take a breath. Get a pen and paper and start to write out all the good things that have ever happened to you either by chance or by choice. Write down all your achievements no matter how trivial. This is to remind yourself that you are good enough. In fact you are great!

There will be many times in our personal and professional life when we'll get to that point, often, where we are dissatisfied with our life, our growth and progress. It is natural and it is good because it means that we are striving to be better, to be more than average. Once we know these moments are inevitable and even necessary it becomes easier to deal with.

Another thing is to calm your mind and screen your thoughts. What kind of thoughts are in your head? Are you self-loathing because you are comparing yourself with other people who are well off? Are you casting yourself down because of one failure or adversity? Are you worried about the uncertainty of your future? Stop it! Censor your thoughts. Your thoughts determine the way you feel so why feel bad?

This is where Napoleon Hill's wisdom comes in handy. He says 'There is a seed of equivalent benefit for each and every adversity and failure you encounter'. Think about it. How many times has your disappointment been a blessing in disguise? I have lost count.

If you already have a fool-proof plan for your future or the life you desire and it isn't working out. Rather than keep pushing, go back to the drawing board and re-strategize. It's beneficial to always revise your plans. You don't want to get to the end of the journey only to realise you have been on the wrong bus all along.

There is no smooth way to success. In fact, success is not a destination. Success is like happiness. It is within you, it comes forth from your efforts, thoughts, actions and acknowledgement. You create your own happiness as much as your success. The universe doesn't owe you anything. You owe it to yourself to attain success and happiness if you so desire. You create your own luck through your actions and through ceasing opportunities. Your destiny is in your hands. Think about it, everything you get is as a result of your thought or handiwork. In other words, you reap what you sow; you lie on the bed you lay; you get a spicy pot of soup if you add too much pepper or too little tomatoes. You get the gist. Everything you get is your own doing. The minute you realise this, the easier it will be for you to stop blaming others for your problems and the faster you will be at taking responsibility for your life.

Friends will advise and judge you; family may not see any good in you or may demand too much from you. Let me tell you this, there is not winning. There is no satisfying them. No matter how low you bend, no matter how many backsides you kiss, no matter how much pride you swallow, they (humans) will never be satisfied.

Last but not least. Do you. Think about you. Love you. Cherish you. Appreciate you. You cannot give what you don't have. If you don't look after yourself, you cannot look after your family. If you don't love yourself, you are useless to your loved ones. So, as selfish as you think it sounds, put yourself first. Always satisfy your preferences. Do not yearn for validation; it only cripples your self-esteem.

You are whole and complete on your own. You are wise. Just be calm and listen to the inner you. You are beautiful.

Nobody knows really what their journey is about. We are just making it up as we go along. So would you be the learner on the driver's seat of your life? Or would you rather another novice who has equally no clue what his own life is about?

- Zeenat Sarumi