Detoxifying Our Relationship with Struggle

Vindication.

The feeling that washes over when you push through mental barriers and limitations.

Those who have felt it know that it’s the sweetest form of victory, and much more satisfying than winning.

Why is that?

To vindicate is to uphold or justify by argument or evidence.

Vindication is absolution in the face of self-doubt, inner-criticism and insecurity.

I’ve always felt paralyzed in the face of self-doubt, inner-criticism and insecurity. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt… vindication.

Hmm.

I recognize that the mind is powerful.

It can feel like a daunting task to create boundaries and limitations on the mind. For some, this can feel like an impossible task.

Yet, self-mastery plays a major role in our personal journeys toward growth, development and fulfillment.

We all recognize that the inner critic can be loud, intimidating and threatening. That said, life often provides you with experiences that allow you to demonstrate your power to silence the inner critic, and to reduce its importance and significance.

There is, however, a small caveat.

To change the power distribution between yourself and your inner critic, you’ll need to change the relationship you have with struggle.

What does struggle have anything to do with silencing my inner critic? If anything, struggle amplifies its voice!

When life hits you with circumstances that introduce struggle, your capacity to withstand and push through, whether you recognize it or not, provides argument and evidence against the claims of your inner critic.

Often, we feel broken by our past experiences, failing to sometimes recognize that the change in us, the shift we experience, is growth - growth that has the capacity to translate as strength.

This, of course, requires a shift in perspective.

We often have an aversion to struggle, and try to avoid it at all costs. That said, the tradeoff with living within the confines of our comfort zone is that we don’t get to choose our roommate, and that roommate is often the inner critic.

Our other option is to see struggle for what it provides, an opportunity.

Opportunity is often disguised as struggle, pain, and sacrifice.

Within struggle, lies the opportunity to demonstrate your ability, strength, and resilience. In the face of adversity, when the only real option is to level-up, more often than not, you do.

Take a moment to recognize the growth that experience has provided you in your life.

Depending on the circumstance, growth can be sudden and violent. Leaving us feeling a disconnect from our former selves - and we experience a loss of who we once were, while trying to identify with who we are becoming.

It is important to remember that who you are in this present moment, survived, thrived, and pushed through seemingly impossible situations and circumstances.

You may feel shaken, you might be beaten and bruised, but if you made it on the other side, recognize and give credit to your strength.

Detoxify your relationship with struggle.

Struggle provides opportunities to tap into your strength and silence your inner critic.

Not to mention, bask in your light.

You are exactly where you are supposed to be.

Give credit to who you are becoming. Give credit to the strength your struggle is unearthing.

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