Many of us want to learn how to turn pain into success. There is no shortcut to success. Being successful always entails hard work and a bit of luck. Painful experiences are part of the process to creating a more successful you. However, when you go through challenges in life, such as losing your job or going thru grief; there are some things you can do to turn your pain into stepping stones to progress, and eventually become successful in your goals.
Rest and Assess
Experiencing challenges and pain forces us to stop in our tracks and even rest from our daily routine. This is the best time to get mental and physical rest as well as emotional rest. Your focus at this time should be how to feel better. When your mind and body are relaxed, and your emotions are calm; you are in the best condition to take stock of things. You can make an honest assessment of your current circumstances and how best to change them. Your lowest point in life could be an opportunity to reset your life.
Explore and Learn
The time of pain is a time to help you explore your feelings and learn from them. Dig deep but don’t dwell on blame or on feeling the victim. The important thing is to be honest with yourself. Ask yourself why you reacted the way you did to a particular person or situation. What triggered your emotions and what could be the cause? Exploring your pain allows you to learn more about yourself. This way, you can get clearer on how you can become better. You can do this with a friend or loved one, in a safe space where you won’t fear being judged.
Create Goals, Not Vices
Sometimes when we are in pain, we want to be alone and we even forget to take care of ourselves. If we dwell on our pain too much without processing them, not taking care of ourselves becomes a habit. Bad habits become vices overtime. This is not a good way to live your life or to heal from your pain. So when you have taken time to rest and reflect; make sure you create goals based on the lessons you learned. This way, you give your self and your life a direction to make progress and grow. Creating goals to move forward is one of the best ways you can turn your pain into a step towards success.
Think Positive, Do Positive
It is important to keep up a positive outlook even in times of pain. Losing hope in yourself and in the future is a dead end. There is always a lesson to be learned, a silver lining to the storm so to speak. Keeping a gratitude journal helps but expressing gratitude towards others for the little things they do for you is even more fulfilling. It is also important to learn to smile, at your self and to others.
The future may be uncertain, but you can be sure that the sun will rise again. Take each day as a chance to start or restart. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Remember, you are a work in progress just like everyone else. The only way to overcome challenges is to keep working on it. As long as you don’t quit, you will find success later on.
Feature Image: Original Photo by Road Trip with Raj on Unsplash.