Back when I was a teacher in the mountains, there were times when I had to visit the students at their homes. I had to go through a lot just to do that.
Why? These were the boondocks we’re talking about, where the distance between the homes of my students ranged kilometers. I remember having to walk more than 10 kilometers in a day, just to visit 6 houses of my students.
Through the pouring rain, thick jungle, and lack of transportation along the highway, step by step, I made it.
And we may often find ourselves in these situations, caught in our figurative rain, jungles, and lack of resources.
How do we go through them?
Remember Your Why.
Why is this important in the first place? What makes this task so important? What results would you get from accomplishing this task that you wouldn’t get otherwise?
Early on in our trekking across the mountains to visit the student’s houses, I was already unhappy with the situation, with the difficulty and discomfort ahead of me.
But one thought that kept me walking, one step at a time, was that it was important to be there for the students. To see them in their homes, with their families, and to better know the students.
Because all of that, will only serve to improve how we teach them, and how we can care for them better back at the dormitory.
One way to go through tough situations is to remember what was the reason in the first place for doing so. If it’s important enough for you, you’ll find ways to get through it, and finish it.
How important is it? What does it mean for you to get this done?
Embrace the Suck.
The Navy SEALS have this motto: “Embrace the Suck.” Which essentially means to get comfortable with the discomfort in the situation. Embrace it, and go through it. Get what needs to be done, done, despite all the inconveniences and discomfort present.
In life, there will be situations that, for the lack of a better term, suck.
Back in the mountains, I was soaking wet, had soggy shoes and socks, had mud everywhere, was cold, scratched and scarred from the thick jungle we had to cross. Not to mention the many insect bites and the heavy pack I was carrying that day.
I so wanted to just stop and call it a day. To just spend a night at one of the student’s houses, and wait for the next transportation option available to get home the next day. Never mind the other students.
Good thing I didn’t fall for those feelings.
I remember having a moment then, in the rain, telling myself: “This situation sucks, but I’ll just accept the reality that it sucks, and keep on going.”
It sucks, and I’ll keep on going.
No denying reality, instead accepting it for what it is, and going through it.
Yes, including how you feel about the situation.
Focus On The Process.
Sometimes, when the results seem so far away, or when we don’t see immediate results, it’s so easy to just stop and give up.
What I did to reach the destination, was to just focus on one step at a time during the journey, and to focus just on the next house, and to keep on going.
Many times we have a plan, or a process, for achieving what we want, but we don’t stick to them because we get impatient, and we doubt what we have planned, for it may not get us there.
Show up, and do the work.
The Show Must Go On.
Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen, who was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in his later years, struggled in his battle with the disease.
But in his last single, entitled “The Show Must Go On”, you would never have felt that from the performance.
There was just so much emotion and strength, that you would never have thought he was struggling with something that would take your energy and spirit away.
He never let that happen. The show must always go on. Until the last.
Embrace the suck.
Go through the obstacles.
Show up and do the work.
Remember your Why.
What are your ways to go through discomfort and struggles? Please share in the comments below!
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