Don’t Begrudge Your Problem, Use It!

 

 

A season of suffering is a small assignment when compared to the reward. Rather than begrudge your problem, explore it. Ponder it. And most of all, use it.

Your pain has a purpose. Your problems, struggles, heartaches, and hassles cooperate toward one end–the glory of God.  - Max Lucado

 

Many of us, regardless of income, age, or race, know a thing or two about suffering. We’ve confronted the ugly face of cancer; we’ve tasted the bile tinged flavor of sickness; and we’ve gone toe to toe with hardship, disappointment and feeling inadequate.

We’ve lost jobs. We’ve lost marriages. Some of us have even lost children or loved ones. Let’s face it, suffering is all around us. It doesn’t matter if you’re an Atheist, a Muslim, Jewish or Agnostic; suffering is not a respecter of persons. It does not discriminate. It is not exclusive; and it never takes any prisoners.

But did you hear what Max said? 

Rather than begrudge your problem, explore it. Ponder it. And most of all, use it. 

Suffering affects us all but so does empowerment. We each bear the responsibility to explore our suffering and use it to fuel our inner selves–use it to drive us forward.  We are beacons of hope in the making. We are pillars of strength with the ability to reach beyond ourselves–beyond our sphere of comfort–to help guide others through life’s rough terrains into safety.

Your pain has a purpose. 

Whether it’s to help your friends, strengthen someone’s resolve or just to serve as a reminder to others facing similar situations, there is a purpose for the hell you’ve been through. Your triumph over the painful things in your life functions like a well lit lighthouse on an otherwise foggy night.

None of us like to suffer; but if your heartbreak saves the life of someone else, wouldn’t you say it’s worth it? If it gives someone just one more reason to hang on and not throw in the towel, wouldn’t it be worth it? What if that someone were your sister, your uncle or your son’s best friend? Would it be worth it then?

Problems, struggles and heartache are temporary; hope, triumph and love are eternal. Don’t begrudge your problems use them.

Daring to Dream a Better Dream – Speak To It

Dare to dream. Reads like a tired cliche people say when nothing else presents itself. Feels like empty chants of unfulfilled visions and aspirations chanting in unison, willing something more into existence. Sings like a failing melody etched in wayward sharps and flats, causing even the most level headed to cling to little more than a dollar and a dream because “hey, you never know.”

For some, daring to dream is synonymous with two words: unattainable reality. Before it can even be entertained, seriously pondered, or given the chance to present its case before the grand jury, it is struck down, mocked, and impaled before an arena filled with well-meaning peers, co-workers, family members, and others who have our ear. There, on the stage of our mind’s eye, an open spectacle is made of those things we desperately cling to even in the face of evidence that attests to failed plans, broken dreams and verdicts riddled with judgment and shame.

“You will never…you can never…it will never…” Stop. Play. Repeat.  In record time, it tops the Billboards with hit albums not even the King of Pop can compete with. ”You will never…you can never…it will never…”

STOP. EJECT. DISCARD.

Dare: to have the courage to contend against, venture, or try; to confront boldly.

Dream: a strong desired goal or purpose; something notable for its beauty, excellence or enjoyable quality

Dare to dream: having the courage to boldly venture or try to attain a strong desired goal or purpose notable for its beauty, excellence or enjoyable quality. 

Daring to dream is not about sitting, wishing or entertaining wild visions of grandeur. It’s about being deathly afraid to let go of familiar things but choosing to do it  in pursuit of something better and more fulfilling. It’s about swimming upstream against the currents of naysayers, traditions and status quo to embark on your own story, told in your own voice and etched through time in your own hand.

It’s about recognizing the realities of fear but not giving it more power than it deserves. Fear grows when you feed it–so don’t.

It’s HARD work making a dream come true. Not because of lack of finances, funding or even a decent business plan. No. The real battle isn’t fought on paper, at the bank or even with a sponsor. The real battle is fought inside you–specifically, inside your mind. It doesn’t matter if you have the perfect plan for your dream, without believing that it will happen–that you can do it–your dream will remain what it is now, a thought.

On April 27, I took my own advice and launched Write Now Communications aka Selena’s Write. I’ve been working as a freelance editor and writer for several years and well, I dared to dream a better dream, one which fear could no longer rule.

Is it scary? At times, definitely. I’ve always worked a 9 to 5. Is it all roses? Absolutely not. It’s tough. And sometimes, it just hurts. The unknown, the stress, the what if’s. But that’s what daring means remember? To have the courage to contend against. 

Chances are you’re a contender too. You’re here. You’re moving beyond your own setbacks, painful past, or hard-learned lessons. You, like me, are refusing to be confined to your place as a ________ (insert label). Instead, you have decreed to the universe that you will not retreat; you will not surrender; and you will not compromise. Your dreams are yours. Dare to dream a better dream.

StriVectin Power to Change and a $30K Giveaway

StriVectin Power to Change – Do YOU Love the Skin You’re In?

The power to change. Four words that can alter the course of any destiny, dream or circumstance. Four words that often times mean the difference between a purpose fulfilled and a passion debunked. Hope. Joy. Destiny. They are the end results of having the courage to stop, refocus and move forward.  They epitomize the soul’s quest to liken itself to something greater than itself–to see beyond the scope of its present circumstance and call forth a better future.

To change oneself or the things we don’t typically like about ourselves requires honesty, transparency or a bit of humor. For me it required all three. You all know how much I rave about being a StriVectin gal. I’ve joked about it on video, talked about it on Twitter, raved about it on Facebook and openly talk about it with anyone who asks me about my skin. Why? Because they pay you? Don’t I wish! No, because I cannot ever remember feeling this good about my skin, especially my face. I take pictures without makeup!  I wear less foundation and concealer now than I have in the last 5 years. And I’m proud that 90% of the people I meet, and know, typically think I’m about 15-20 years younger than my real age. Although, looking younger is not so much fun when you’re trying to buy wine and they think you’ve borrowed your sister’s I.D. and request that you call your parent, but that’s another post entirely.

When one area in our life changes for the better, the ripple effect is inevitable. Confidence comes alive. Beauty, ingenuity and warmth take center stage as life seems to harmonize with the chords of our new found growth. We dream bigger. We live on purpose. We live with purpose. This is kind of what this challenge is all about. Having the power to change what you can, to live the kind of life you really want, to impact the lives of others along the way. Each one, reach one to teach one.

If you had $30,000 what would you change for the better? Whose life would you impact?

I know 8 outstanding, highly creative youth who want to go to Haiti to help rebuild a broken country and learn the meaning of service. $30,000 sounds like a great investment, don’t you think?

 Psst. Don’t forget about their free trial offer: $35 worth of product and you pay $6.50 shipping + handling. Um, yes please.