You’re probably no stranger to hardship. Hell, every person on the planet has dealt with their own share of bad experiences. Often times, though, these experiences shape who we are and even give us some very valuable lessons along the way. These are some of the best things you can learn after going through some serious crap:
- Strength is the key to survival. Being able to push yourself when things get really tough instead of taking the easy way out by giving up is the epitome of strength. You may get knocked down, but you always get back up again and keep trying. Each and every time you rise from the ashes of whatever fire burned you down you’re stronger than you were before, ready to take on the next crappy thing that happens to you.
- It’s the little things that count. When even the smallest things can make you happy, that’s when you know you’ve been through the ringer. Being able to appreciate the little things means that you’ve come to realize what life is all about.
- If it won’t matter in a year, it shouldn’t matter now. If something is stressing you out and you realize that next year it will mean nothing, you’re able to let it go. That is a powerful skill to have and can only be obtained by going through hell and back.
- No matter how bad it seems, it will get better. Every bad moment you ever had was followed by a good moment. The lesson here is that nothing is ever all good or all bad and even if your life seems horrible now, the good moments will come again. You just have to wait.
- There’s always a bright side. Maybe you lost your dream job and are freaking out because your rent is due in a week. The good news is, you have 7 days to figure it out and until then you have a roof over your head which is more than a lot of people in this world can say.
- Gratitude keeps you sane. Being thankful for what you do have makes it easier to accept the things you don’t. When you go through bouts of feeling like you have absolutely nothing, then even the smallest of victories will make you grateful for the life you get to live.
- Your friends are your lifeline. You could have one friend or 1000 friends and it doesn’t matter because however many you have, you know that they were always there for you when you were down on your luck. When it happens again, which it will because that’s life, they’ll be there for you again to cheer you up with a pep talk or to down a bottle of wine, whichever you need.
- Making every moment count is important. When you go through some seriously rough times, being able to take moments as they come becomes as natural to you as breathing. You’re able to really be there for whatever is happening, good or bad, and when you take each day one moment at a time you become dangerously well-equipped to handle anything.
- Happiness is a choice. You choose what to be miserable or happy about and having that power can only come from going through really bad times. You don’t let life get the best of you because you know that although you’re not always in control of what happens to you, you are in control of how you handle it.
- Without the bad, the good wouldn’t exist. If everything was good then nothing would be good, because the ability to really appreciate the good times only comes from having really bad things happen to you. Great times are only great because you know what bad actually feels like.
- Doing what you love is the only way to truly live. After going through heavy crap, the only way to truly live your life is by doing what you love to do and not compromising on that. You want to make your life count, even if it’s just to you, and in doing so you’ll have lived a happy life regardless of the crappy hand you may have been dealt.
- You may not see it, but you are badass. If you are reading this then that means you’ve gotten through every crappy, awful thing that’s ever happened to you. Congratulations! You are one bad ass person and you can get through anything.
