Episode 184
Mark 2.0 Show 7 - Don't Waste the Struggle
Mark 2.0 – Episode 7
Don't Waste the Struggle
Opening Quote
"Your struggle may not have been your choice, but what you become because of it is."
INTRO
Welcome back to Make a Difference.
You know, if there's one thing I've learned over the past year, it's this:
Nobody volunteers for the hard stuff.
Nobody wakes up in the morning and says,
"You know what I'd really like today? A major challenge."
We don't ask for illness.
We don't ask for setbacks.
We don't ask for the moments that completely turn our lives upside down.
But sooner or later, life brings them anyway.
And when it does, most of us ask the same question:
"Why is this happening to me?"
I've asked that question.
Maybe you have too.
But over time, I've come to believe there's a better question.
Not,
"Why is this happening to me?"
But,
"What can this teach me?"
MAIN MESSAGE
When we're in the middle of a struggle, it's hard to see anything beyond the pain.
We just want things to go back to normal.
We want life to feel easy again.
We want answers.
And we want them now.
I know I did.
When I was dealing with my infection and fighting my way through recovery, I wasn't looking for life lessons.
I wasn't trying to become a better person.
I was simply trying to make it through the day.
Some days, that felt like enough of a challenge.
But looking back now, I can see something I couldn't see then.
The struggle was changing me.
Not because I wanted it to.
But because it had to.
It was teaching me things that comfort never could.
PERSONAL STORY
Before all of this happened, I thought just push thought the difficult times.
Push through.
Keep going.
Then life had a different lesson for me.
It taught me that strength isn't always about pushing forward.
Sometimes strength is accepting help. When I look back at my struggle, I often think about where I would be if I did not have my wife. but that is a story for a full show.
Sometimes strength is being patient.
Sometimes strength is getting out of bed and taking one more step than you took yesterday.
Those lessons didn't come from success.
They came from struggle.
And honestly, I don't think I would have learned them any other way.
REFLECTION
One of the things I've noticed is that every difficult season leaves us with something.
Sometimes it's wisdom.
Sometimes it's perspective.
Sometimes it's gratitude.
Sometimes it's compassion for people who are carrying burdens we can't see.
The struggle changes us.
The real question is whether we'll let it change us for the better.
Because pain can make us bitter.
Or it can make us stronger.
It can close our hearts.
Or it can open them.
It can make us ask, "Why me?"
Or it can inspire us to ask, "What now?"
Asking the question "what now" requires that we do the reflective inspective thinking to dig in and answer that question.
THE LESSON
I still wouldn't choose the challenges I've been through.
But I can honestly say they've taught me things I needed to learn.
They reminded me that life is fragile.
They reminded me not to take ordinary days for granted.
They reminded me that every day is a gift.
And maybe that's the lesson.
Not that we should be thankful for the struggle itself.
But that we shouldn't waste it.
If we're going to walk through something difficult, let's come out stronger.
Let's come out wiser.
Let's come out with a deeper appreciation for the life we've been given.
CHALLENGE FOR TODAY
Today, I want you to think about a challenge you're facing right now.
Maybe it's something you've been carrying for a long time.
Maybe it's something that just showed up.
Instead of asking,
"Why is this happening to me?"
Try asking,
"What is this teaching me?"
You might be surprised by the answer.
Because sometimes the greatest growth in our lives comes from the seasons we would never have chosen.
CLOSING
I'll leave you with this thought:
"The struggle didn't come to stop you. It came to teach you, strengthen you, and prepare you for what's next."
Don't waste the lesson.
Don't waste the growth.
And don't waste the opportunity to become stronger because of what you've been through.
Thank you for listening to Make a Difference.
Takeaways:
- The podcast emphasizes the significance of reflection and self-improvement as essential personal growth tools.
- Listeners are encouraged to confront their struggles and seek lessons rather than question their circumstances.
- Strength can manifest not only through perseverance but also through accepting assistance from others.
- The show promotes the idea that every challenge faced can lead to personal wisdom and deeper appreciation for life.
Transcript
Welcome to Make a Difference, a podcast about reflection and self improvement.
Speaker A:Each month the podcast will choose a series of quotes centered around a topic for reflection and then thoughts for discussion and implementation.
Speaker A:We all get stuck sometimes, and these shows are designed to show us a way to get unstuck.
Speaker A:These shows are published Monday through Friday.
Speaker A:Join us daily to make a difference on how you view your personal outlook and hopefully improve it.
Speaker A:We will kick off the show with your host, Mark Quinn after this short break.
Speaker B:Welcome back to Make a Difference.
Speaker B:Today is episode seven in the Mark 2.0 series and it's entitled Don't Waste the Struggle.
Speaker B:The quote for Reflection states, your struggle may not have been your choice, but what you become because of it is.
Speaker B:You know, if there's one thing I've learned over the past year, it's this.
Speaker B:Nobody volunteers for the hard stuff.
Speaker B:Nobody wakes up in the morning and says, you know what I'd really like?
Speaker B:Today is a major challenge.
Speaker B:We don't ask for illness.
Speaker B:We don't ask for setbacks.
Speaker B:We don't ask for the moments that completely turn our lives upside down.
Speaker B:But sooner or later, life's gonna bring them anyway.
Speaker B:And when it does, most of us ask the same question.
Speaker B:Why is this happening to me?
Speaker B:I've asked that question.
Speaker B:Maybe you have too.
Speaker B:But over time, I've come to believe there's a better question to ask.
Speaker B:But what can this teach me?
Speaker B:When we're in the middle of a struggle, it's hard to see anything beyond the pain.
Speaker B:We just want things to go back to normal.
Speaker B:We want life to feel easy again.
Speaker B:We want answers to our questions, and we want them now.
Speaker B:Just as I stated in the previous episode, we're accustomed to instant gratification.
Speaker B:When I was dealing with my infection and fighting my way through recovery, and I still am, I wasn't looking for life lessons.
Speaker B:I wasn't trying to become a better person.
Speaker B:I was simply trying to make it through the day.
Speaker B:Some days that felt like enough of a challenge.
Speaker B:But looking back now, I can see something I couldn't see through the pain then.
Speaker B:The struggle was changing me.
Speaker B:Not because I wanted it to, but because it had to.
Speaker B:It was teaching me things that comfort never could.
Speaker B:Before all this happened, my workflow involved a lot of just push through the difficult times.
Speaker B:Work harder, push through, keep going.
Speaker B:Then life had a different lesson.
Speaker B:It taught me that strength isn't always about pushing forward.
Speaker B:Sometimes strength is accepting help.
Speaker B:When I look back at my struggle with this infection, I often think where I would be if I didn't have my wife.
Speaker B:But we'll get into that on another day.
Speaker B:Sometimes strength is being patient.
Speaker B:Sometimes strength is getting out of bed and taking one more step than you took yesterday.
Speaker B:I relayed in the last series that 43 steps.
Speaker B:And the next day it was, can I make it to the nurse desk?
Speaker B:Can I make it from the therapy room back to my room?
Speaker B:How far can I go today?
Speaker B:Can I make it farther than I did yesterday?
Speaker B:And honestly, I don't think we would have learned from these struggles any other way than to push through and really try to make that next step count.
Speaker B:One of the things I've noticed is that every difficult season leaves us with something, whether it be wisdom, perspective.
Speaker B:Definitely gratitude.
Speaker B:You can't go through what I've gone through and not be grateful.
Speaker B:My family, my support network, the people that were caring for me, my gratitude for them knows no bounds.
Speaker B:Sometimes it's compassion for people who are carrying burdens we can't see.
Speaker B:That struggle changes us.
Speaker B:The real question is whether we let it change us for the better.
Speaker B:Because pain can make us bitter.
Speaker B:It can also make us stronger.
Speaker B:Pain can close hearts, or it can open them.
Speaker B:And it may ask you, why me?
Speaker B:Or it can inspire you to ask, what now?
Speaker B:Anytime you ask the question, what now?
Speaker B:Understand this requires that we do the reflective, inspective thinking to dig in and answer that question.
Speaker B:Those answers aren't going to pop up on their own.
Speaker B:I still wouldn't choose the challenges I've been through.
Speaker B:I jokingly tell people, if you get a chance to do the infection weight loss program, don't do it.
Speaker B:And I say that with a smile.
Speaker B:But I can honestly say these things have taught me things I needed to learn.
Speaker B:They reminded me that life fragile.
Speaker B:They reminded me not to take ordinary days for granted.
Speaker B:They reminded me that every day is a gift and it should be cherished and celebrated in your own personal way.
Speaker B:And maybe that is the lesson I needed.
Speaker B:Not that we should be thankful for the struggle itself, but that we shouldn't waste it.
Speaker B:If we're going to walk through something difficult, let's come out stronger on the other side.
Speaker B:Let's come out wiser.
Speaker B:Let's come out with a deeper appreciation for life than we've been giving it up until this point.
Speaker B:Today, I'd like to challenge you to think about something.
Speaker B:A challenge you're facing right now.
Speaker B:Maybe it's something you've been carrying for a long time.
Speaker B:Maybe it's something that just showed up.
Speaker B:Instead of asking, why is this happening to me?
Speaker B:Asking, what is this teaching me you just might be surprised by the answer.
Speaker B:Because sometimes the greatest growth in our lives comes from the seasons we would never have chosen to take.
Speaker B:I'll leave you with this thought.
Speaker B:The struggle didn't come to stop you.
Speaker B:It came to teach you, strengthen you, and prepare you for what comes next.
Speaker B:Don't waste the lesson, and don't waste the opportunity to become stronger because of what you have been through.
Speaker B:That's what I'm thinking about today, and I'll see you in our next episode.
Speaker A:If you like what you're hearing on the show, make the choice to subscribe today.
Speaker A:The show is gaining listeners all over the world, and we're grateful for your support.
Speaker A: out to us@makeadifferencenow:
