Have you ever felt like you were in an arena facing what seems to be a giant? Perhaps it’s a problem, an obstacle, an insecurity. And maybe your arena is your job, your classroom, an illness, or some other area of your life. Whatever arena you are in, I can guarantee you are not alone in this fight.
Although we may be in different phases and stages of our lives, the truth is that we are all facing something in some arena. And sometimes, we feel alone in our fight. You may not only feel alone, but ill-equipped for the fight. Maybe you think it is a failed match to begin with – but believe me, that is only setting yourself up for failure. The truth is that we are enough for whatever we’re facing. And it’s up to us to believe it.
Throughout my life, I have faced things that seemed impossible for me to overcome. From the time of my youth, doubts have crept in and have tried to keep me from doing some things that I wanted to do. However, I have learned and am learning that life will always have obstacles that force us to either flee or fight. And, although I have not always chosen to stay and fight, I have learned that this is often the best choice.
The arena that you are in may make it seem like all odds are against you and that you can never overcome or win. But I believe that we all have what it takes to overcome obstacles before us. All we have to do is believe it and choose to not run from it.
So here’s how I believe we can overcome our giants in whatever arena we find ourselves in:
First, identify your opponent
Are you facing problems at work, school, or some other place where you seem you cannot get ahead? Ask yourself what the real problem is. What is this problem pulling out of you?
An insecurity, a weakness, a shame? These may not have been the first things that came to mind, but it’s important to be honest about what you are really facing.
Next, ask yourself what is this here to teach me?
I believe every problem we face brings along a lesson of some sort to teach us. And usually, it is a lesson about ourselves. For instance, when I went back to college at the age of 27 I had plenty of insecurities as to whether or not I was equipped enough to graduate. I had been through something quite traumatic and didn’t know if I was still qualified after not using my mind to think, read, or write for so long. But, as I began to use my skills once again and develop them, I found that I still had what it took, and I ended up graduating with honors at the end.
So, all in all, what the obstacle in school taught me was that I still felt less-than in comparison to students who had never been through anything like I had (that, being a nervous breakdown). But what I learned about myself was that I did still have the gifts and talents to take me to where I needed to go. I just had to persevere.
Lastly, believe that you have what you need in your arena
Many of us think, when we are facing our giants, that we don’t have what it takes. I know I have and still have to work on this. But the truth is that if we didn’t have what it takes, then we probably wouldn’t be where we are. Let’s remember that we are already in the position to fight- all we have to do is believe that we are enough.
One more thing I’ll add is this: Just because we fall or make mistakes or even fail to the point of no return doesn’t mean that we are not enough. It just means we take it as a loss and keep moving forward, having learned all we could from it. Sometimes the arena is only there to teach you something about yourself, rather than a promotion or some win. And to be honest, the biggest win I ever had was in the fight against my own self (more to come on this).
I hope this helped somebody this week. If this resonates with you, leave a note in the comments!
And follow me on Instagram or Facebook @izzylala.