Life is Hard, But That’s a Good Thing

But first let me tell you that you may have heard this before. So you have to do something for me (and you) before you read what I’m about to write. You have to pretend that you’ve never heard this before, and read it as if it were the first time you’ve ever been made aware of this before. Read it with an open mind. Seriously, don’t just say “okay” and keep reading – really try to read this with an open mind. Okay…

The reason why I appreciate the difficulties in my life, is because they help me make myself into a better, stronger, wiser, happier person. They are especially good for making me improve aspects about myself that I would not be willing to try to improve on my own. And also because in almost every case, when I encounter difficult situations, things turn out to be better than before. Let me give you a few examples.

• My education at Notre Dame was obviously extremely difficult mentally. And when I had a hard time keeping my grades up, it made me improve my studying skills. Now I can learn almost anything on my own by reading a book, watching a video, talking to people about it, or just trying to figure it out on my own.
• During Marine Corps Officer Candidate School I had an unbelievably hard time physically and mentally, and was constantly pushed to my limits. But it made me develop an enormous sense of self-confidence, good leadership skills, great teamwork skills, and get into the best physical shape of my life.

• When I couldn’t graduate from college with my class because I still had to take one more class, it also cause me not to be able to go directly into the Marine Corps as an officer. Instead I had to go back home and live with my mom while I finished my last class at a local college. During that time I was also able to find a job that would hire me at a great salary even though I didn’t have a degree yet, and I met the woman who would later become my wife. 
• When I got laid-off from my first real job, I ended up finding a different one that I enjoyed more and where I had a 10% higher salary too! 
• When my grandfather died from cancer, it brought the family together and made us all appreciate our lives and the lives of those we love so much more. And because my grandfather was an extraordinary man, it gives me something to try to live up to which has and will continue to make me strive to make myself into a better and better person.
• When I have disagreements with my wife, they make us talk about those things more and understand each other better which ends up making us closer and more appreciative of our differences.

No matter what difficult things have happened, are happening, or will happen in your life, you should do your best to appreciate them. They force you to improve yourself, usually in ways that you wouldn’t have tried to improve on your own. They will make you into a better person, as long as you use them as learning experiences and opportunities for growth. You will be a much happier and overall better person as a result.