#027 Stop Struggle and Win in Life

The word “struggle” might not be anyone’s favourite, but it plays an important part in how it shapes our journey toward achievement.

Or does it?

In this thought-provoking episode, we explore the concept of struggle and its significance in achieving success.

What You’ll Learn in this Podcast:

1. How struggle can be your friend.
2. Allah’s reminder about hardship and ease, and how to find the balance.
3. What to focus on for success.

Mentioned on the Podcast: (Click on Links)

• Nafs Coaching School
• Mind Health & Relationship training (Free Training & Newsletter)

Struggle to Striking in Life – The Clear Path Forward

As humans, we are innately drawn to comfort and ease, often avoiding situations that involve struggle or discomfort. 

One of the biggest challenges that so many people face is the struggle in relationships.

This is why we need to focus  our attention on relationships, as it’s these very relationships that make our life enjoyable, fulfilled and something we strive for.

This includes our relationship with ourselves, others, and most importantly with Allah (swt). 

The thing is, people don’t just struggle in relationships.  it’s also the struggle to take action, the struggle to realise your dreams, and the struggle for the most important things in your life. 

In the Science of the Nafs, a fundamental principle we focus on is how we manage our mind, because it’s this that will determine how we manage our life. 

By extension, that helps us to manage our relationships, our projects, our achievements, our business, and our career. It helps us to manage everything. 

A Common Struggle 

Every human being has to experience some form of struggle throughout life, it’s a normal part of life, it’s the human experience Alhamduillah. 

However, one of the reasons we struggle is that we tell ourselves “it’s abnormal, why me?, Allah doesn’t care for me” and we just don’t like it. 

These challenges require us to put in effort and adapt to new circumstances. Instead of looking at it as an obstacle, and a small bump in our life’s journey, we throw ourselves into turmoil by giving ourselves unhelpful thoughts. When we’re prepared to embrace these challenges, we’re able to use it to grow, develop and begin to reach our full potential. 

For example, Take the hero and underdog story.

It resonates with us because we see the journey of struggle which leads to winning and being successful in the end. Coming out on top with perseverance. 

We love to see the other side of struggle which is success, achievement, successful relationships, love, mercy, compassion, all of those good things.

So, ask yourself, “why don’t I want to go through these struggles?”

Look at any of the greatest blessings you have. 

Pick one. Think about what you experienced in the journey to attaining that blessing.

The process that you went through before you achieved that, before you attained it, before you felt it.

Struggle is just effort. Kind of like a rocket that needs an initial burst of energy to launch into space. Our efforts at the beginning determine how well it goes. 

My personal experience was that I used to get really frustrated when I couldn’t see the results instantly.

I’d be working really hard, so hard, and that would be followed by frustration when I wouldn’t see an instant result. 

That nagging internal voice (thoughts) would come to me telling me that I’ve done nothing, and it’s useless, it’s a big fat failure. I might as well give up now. 

“What’s the point? There’s no point to this.”

Instead of fixating on immediate results, don’t do what I used to do but focus on the process itself.

Consistent effort, persistence, and patience lead to massive growth over time.

The similitude that comes to mind is, it’s like tending to a seed that eventually blooms into something beautiful.

Just continue every day. You won’t see much at first.

But with persistence, when you come back to it six months later, you will see massive growth. 

Anything worth having, anything with value is like this.

A relationship, a business, a project, writing a book, creating anything in the world, developing yourself, developing your mind. They all require persistence, perseverance and commitment.

When you over analyse the outcome too soon, you’re opening the door to self-sabotage. Instead of focusing on instant results which are likely to cause frustration and demotivation, focus on the daily process. 

Stay in the game, embrace the struggle!

Remember the statement of Allah (swt) where He says, “Certainly, with hardship, there is ease.”

Without hardship, we wouldn’t recognise or appreciate ease.

Allah (swt) has given us the ability to exert effort and drive change.

Embracing struggle, investing effort, and focusing on the process are the keys to achieving our goals and experiencing exponential growth and development inshaAllah.

Are you ready to embrace the the struggle and win in your life? 

You decide!