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Motivation Mondays: STRUGGLE

28/08/2017
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“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of those depths.” Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Motivation Mondays: STRUGGLE

Motivation Mondays: STRUGGLE


Love, Dad (Short Film)

Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle. Napoleon Hill
Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The battle of life is, in most cases, fought uphill; and to win it without a struggle were perhaps to win it without honor. If there were no difficulties there would be no success; if there were nothing to struggle for, there would be nothing to be achieved. Samuel Smiles

When you think of the word – STRUGGLE – what comes to mind? All of life entails some struggle and the only way around it is to get up and keep moving forward. The struggles we experience in life fire our passion, sharpen our ambition and build our motivation to overcome our obstacles. Struggle is a heavy word and it brings back memories for a lot of people; both good and bad. I have had my share of it on many levels and this post was a way to revisit the subject and show how it can help fire the imagination and give us a sense of gratitude about our lives. In poor countries, people learn to be inventive because of the enormous challenges and struggles they face. So, it has both its innovative/bright side and its enervating/dark side. I started the post with a lot of ideas about the nature of struggle and how it helps us grow, heal and become more compassionate. I added my quotes and stories, and wrote part of the first paragraph and it took on a life of its own. COME BACK LATER FOR MORE!

READ: BitterSweet : When Creative Work Starts to Suck the Life Out Of You by Mike Segal

A Story: From Struggle to Success
Once upon a time, a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn’t know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed. Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire.
Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot and ground coffee beans in the third pot. He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. After twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup.
Turning to her, he asked. “Daughter, what do you see?” “Potatoes, eggs and coffee,” she hastily replied.
“Look closer”, he said, “and touch the potatoes.” She did and noted that they were soft.
He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.
Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face.
“Father, what does this mean?” she asked.
He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity-the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently. The potato went in strong, hard and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak. The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard. However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.
“Which one are you?” he asked his daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean?”
Moral: In life, things happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is how you choose to react to it and what you make out of it. Life is all about leaning, adopting and converting all the struggles that we experience into something positive. Via MoralStories.org

 

“Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.” Oprah Winfrey

Motivation Mondays: STRUGGLE

Motivation Mondays: STRUGGLE

Don’t feel entitled to anything you didn’t sweat and struggle for. Marian Wright Edelman
Without struggle, no progress and no result. Every breaking of habit produces a change in the machine. George Gurdjieff
A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us. John Steinbeck
All life demands struggle. Those who have everything given to them become lazy, selfish, and insensitive to the real values of life. The very striving and hard work that we so constantly try to avoid is the major building block in the person we are today. Pope Paul VI

What type of Struggle have you faced? While I am not an advocate for “no pain no gain,” I believe that struggling to accomplish any type of goal makes us stronger, wiser and, hopefully, more considerate of others who are going through the same experiences. Of course that is not entirely true because I have seen people in the workplace who fought to get to their position, who then work hard to make sure no one else gets there. It is truly a misguided way of thinking. Great bosses are those who want their employees to rise to the top and become better at their job. When you work for an insecure boss, they spend more time nitpicking and creating havoc for their staff. A great boss should always work with integrity and compassion because all eyes are in that person. Even if you are not in a position of authority, you can mentor others by voluntering and offering a helping hand in your community.

 

READ: Bittersweet: Sweetness In The Garbage Slums of Cairo via Stephen’s Children
Learning to Walk, and Standing Proud via StandProud

A Story: Make Friends with Your Mind & Struggle
Once Buddha was walking from one town to another town with a few of his followers. This was in the initial days. While they were traveling, they happened to pass a lake. They stopped there and Buddha told one of his disciples, “I am thirsty. Please get me some water from that lake there”.
The disciple walked up to the lake. When he reached it, he noticed that some people were washing clothes in the water and, right at that moment, a bullock cart started crossing the lake right at the edge of it. As a result, the water became very muddy, very turbid. The disciple thought, “How can I give this muddy water to Buddha to drink?!” So he came back and told the Buddha, “The water in there is very muddy. I don’t think it is fit to drink”.
So, the Buddha said, let us take a little rest here by the tree. After about half an hour, again Buddha asked the same disciple to go back to the lake and get him some water to drink. The disciple obediently went back to the lake. This time he found that the lake had absolutely clear water in it. The mud had settled down and the water above it looked fit to be had. So he collected some water in a pot and brought it to the Buddha.
The Buddha looked at the water, and then he looked up at the disciple and said, “See, You let the water be and the mud settled down on its own. You got a clear water. It didn’t require any effort”. Anon Zen Stories

 

The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for July/August 2017 are:

 

JULY

07/04 – Independence Day,
07/11 – World Population Day, 14 Bastille Day
07/16 – National Ice Cream Day, 18 Nelson Mandela Day
07/23 – Parents Day, 28 World Hepatitis Day
07/30 – International Friendship Day

AUGUST

08/06 –  01 National Girlfriend Day
08/13 –  06 Friendship Day, 12 International Youth Day
08/20 –  19 World Humanitarian Day
08/27 –  26 National Dog Day

 

Are You Looking for Ways to Stay Creative in 2017?

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– Join the Daily Post Post-a-day or Post-a-week Challenge.

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— Join the BlogHer Writing Lab

More Below!
“Always remember that striving and struggle precede success, even in the dictionary.” Sarah Ban Breathnach

Motivation Mondays: STRUGGLE

Motivation Mondays: STRUGGLE

Our duty is to encourage every one in his struggle to live up to his own highest idea, and strive at the same time to make the ideal as near as possible to the Truth. Swami Vivekananda
Nothing is given to man on earth – struggle is built into the nature of life, and conflict is possible – the hero is the man who lets no obstacle prevent him from pursuing the values he has chosen. Andrew Bernstein
A lot of what is most beautiful about the world arises from struggle. Malcolm Gladwell
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. Friedrich Nietzsche

 

Why must we remain vigilant once we have overcome a challenge? Old and bad habits die hard. Whether our struggle is weight loss, financial recovery,  drug abuse, health or work issues or any multitude of challenges people face daily, we must stay vigilant once we have overcome the struggle by maintaining a rigorous and disciplined life that helps us support our achievement. If we had kept the company of people who led us astray, we need to move away from such connections and encourage them to seek help. If we had created our own bad habits or distractions that stood in our way, we need to pay attention and check in regularly with positive affirmations, renewed vigor and new goals. To work towards better, demands that we place clear boundaries on what we do. Stay focused and do the heavy lifting required. Treat yourself to something good and healthy and press on. Never ever look at others as competition. Focus on your own game and work at being the best at it.

READ: Bittersweet: Perhaps The Most Important Story We Will Ever Tell via Bethany House

A Story: Grace and The Water Bearer
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.” “Why?” asked the bearer. “What are you ashamed of?” “I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts,” the pot said.
The water bearer’s heart went out to the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.” Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt sad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The water bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.” Anon via: GoodWeb

 

Have a Happy, Healthy 2017!

 

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Positive Motivation Tip: All of life entails struggle, embrace and make friends with yours.

Motivation Mondays is open to anyone who wishes to share a motivational quote, photo, personal challenge or a post that encourages others to start the week on an upbeat note.
Basic Instructions: Each week, I will have a motivation word to help us create a response. (See listed words for the months above/below)
Email address: You may email or share your post as a comment and I will add it to the round-up of related posts. email it to: contact(@)mirthandmotivation(.)com
Category tag: – Share your post using Motivation Mondays
Twitter hashtag: – Use this on Twitter #MotvnM
Dedicated Page: There is a dedicated page for Motivation Mondays. It has the same instructions and will include other helpful tools and a link to the round-up
Facebook Page:MotivationOnMondays Join our page and add your post and/or any motivational piece you think will be helpful to others.
Facebook Community: We have a Facebook community forum to compliment the page. It serves as another way to share uplifting posts and thoughts. Please join in and add your voice.

Badge: – I created a fun badge using PicMonkey’s free photo editing tools. You can create your own, use WordPress’ integrated tool on your blog or you are welcome to use mine. (see dedicated page)
Tag: – Motivation Mondays
Hashtag: – #MotvnM

 

Related Posts

PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos via Wikipedia  and/or Eclipse via Pixabay

 

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet

 

 

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from → Global Events, Motivation Mondays, Positive Advice, Posts & Photos 2017
174 Comments leave one →
  1. Matters of Living permalink
    28/08/2017 3:59 pm

    I really enjoyed the story about the leaking pot. the father and daughter lesson has been a long favourite and I even posted it on my own blog. this effort is a great idea. Mondays need a little extra care

    Reply
  2. hal permalink
    28/08/2017 5:10 pm

    everyday can feel like a struggle – but i just remind myself that it always makes you stronger in the end

    Reply
  3. amandakrill permalink
    28/08/2017 7:45 pm

    Excellent post. The last few years have been a complete struggle, and though it feels like it’s never going to end, I know it will. I also recently realized that I’m always waiting for something to happen so that I can really live and be happy…but it hit me…this IS life. This is living. It’s never going to be easy. Just have to be happy here and now, even in the struggle.

    Reply
    • Eliz@MirthandMotivation permalink*
      06/09/2017 11:33 am

      Same here Amanda but I have adjusted to many of the changes and have grown in my faith and taking action… for everything there is a season.

      Reply
  4. Adriana Martin permalink
    28/08/2017 9:41 pm

    We might not want to struggle but suffering and struggling is what makes us better human beings and kinder people.

    Reply
  5. Kristine Nicole Alessandra permalink
    28/08/2017 10:17 pm

    Thanks for this thought provoking post, Elizabeth. It seems all my life is one big struggle, but I am not complaining. I know it is so because I am being prepared for something better. Like a famous Chinese proverb – “No mud, No lotus.”

    Reply
  6. Julz permalink
    28/08/2017 10:58 pm

    I used to study Nietzsche in philosophy – a very realistic author. I enjoyed reading him a lot.

    Reply
  7. kalaiputhripriya permalink
    28/08/2017 11:19 pm

    Well said . It gives a kind of motivation to all the people who read this post !

    Reply
  8. Aditya permalink
    29/08/2017 12:10 am

    I always learned Motivation is the best thing. But Motivation on Monday is something even I felt bored. I can see I am pretty much late to do all of these and in different timezone as well.

    Reply
  9. Ressa permalink
    29/08/2017 12:15 am

    Dealing with struggle was something I had issues with throughout my life! I always thought that it was what made me incapable when in reality, it is just an everyday process in life. Thanks for sharing such an informational post!

    Reply
  10. Familyearthtrek permalink
    29/08/2017 1:06 am

    I really love the story about the potato, the egg and the coffee beans. This is a story I will tell many! I guess I would be like the coffee beans after a challenge in life. I would look first tiny and small but afterwards I would become something else. A better person after each obstacle.

    Reply
  11. Thehyppomyselfthecat permalink
    29/08/2017 1:11 am

    I really like your post.. I absolutely agree with you…how one reacts to things that happen, defines him. I am trying to live a meaningful life learning from the struggles. Thanks for sharing this beautiful stories and thoughts.

    Reply
  12. Neha Verma permalink
    29/08/2017 1:50 am

    Struggle has been an integral part of whatever I have achieved in life so far. And I can totally relate .

    Reply
  13. cre8tone kylie permalink
    29/08/2017 2:32 am

    It’s true that everyone is struggling hard.. To survive… Lovely photos and article on struggling..

    Reply
  14. acraftymix permalink
    29/08/2017 3:20 am

    Beautiful, sad and life affirming all at the same time Elizabeth <3 I've heard the broken pot story many times before, and every time I hear it, I get goosebumps. It's our cracks and imperfections and struggles that make us all so unique

    Reply
  15. ljdove23 permalink
    29/08/2017 4:15 am

    Great post as always. Struggle is something I am very familiar with having always struggled with my own mental health, the death of my son and consequent breakdown of my marriage, and our struggle to have children in my second marriage. Struggle makes us who we are, I am grateful for mine.

    Reply
  16. Mayuri permalink
    29/08/2017 5:23 am

    This post is quite inspiring and motivating. I have never heard of this story,”Grace and The Water Bearer”, and I love it 🙂

    Reply
  17. diaryofasinglemum permalink
    29/08/2017 6:05 am

    We all need a little push sometimes. I find myself always encouraging my son who is 3 that he can do it. And now he says it to me😁😁

    Reply
  18. 조이 Czjai (@RebelSweetHrt) permalink
    29/08/2017 6:57 am

    This is so true. The hardships and struggles that we have to go through in life make us stronger, if not better individuals. You just have to see the good in everything, even during troubled times. 🙂

    Reply
    • lupusguru (@lupusguru) permalink
      06/09/2017 11:29 am

      There is so much truth to that saying, “that which doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger!” I’ve been through some adversity (it was difficult at the time), but once I had dealt with it, i was more equipped to help others.

      Reply
  19. becomingbritton permalink
    29/08/2017 7:10 am

    The story about the boiling water with the potatoes and the egg was so perfect. We each face adversity in a different way. 🙂

    Reply
  20. Shell permalink
    29/08/2017 8:20 am

    Thank you for sharing so many ideas of motivational reads! These will definitely be something I would like to read for enriching my thoughts.

    Reply
  21. jin permalink
    29/08/2017 9:06 am

    I always enjoy reading your Motivation Monday posts – because they simply are that, motivating! As well as inspiring and hopeful. It’s definitely a great way to start off the week!

    Reply
  22. Simply Apostolia permalink
    29/08/2017 9:18 am

    “Without struggle, we all would be weak” That’s what my father used to tell me since I was a child. I couldn’t really understand it back then, but now I see it. There’s always an opportunity in every Struggle we have. It grows us! Thank you so much for this post!

    Reply
  23. Kelly Reci permalink
    29/08/2017 9:23 am

    I really like your motivation monday. Struggles are required in order to survive in life, because in order to stand up, you gotta know what falling out is like.

    Reply
  24. Nina Bashaw Photography permalink
    29/08/2017 9:42 am

    It’s so easy to get bogged down and feel overwhelmed when life knocks you down. Sometimes you have to take a step back and regroup, meditate on all the good things in your life and prepare yourself to tackle your next goal!

    Reply
  25. Shawna permalink
    29/08/2017 10:01 am

    This is a beautiful post! Struggling with anything at all is often times hard and we feel like our world is falling apart. But the beauty of it is that struggles make us the very being that we are today. I know they have personally made me stronger. Thank you for posting this and thank you for those reading suggestions! I will be checking them out!

    Reply
  26. brigettedanielle permalink
    29/08/2017 11:14 am

    To me struggle means you are living. We are all given trials and tests that make us stronger. The struggle is a part of our growing process. When we embrace the struggle, we embrace getting better.

    Reply
  27. Ana De-Jesus permalink
    29/08/2017 3:58 pm

    What a beautiful analogy of the coffee beans, eggs and potato.Next time that I am struggling I would like to think of myself of the coffee beans which brand someone new to the table. Learning to not give up is often one of life’s most difficult lessons but for me I like to keep on fighting x

    Reply
  28. Gladys Parker permalink
    29/08/2017 4:51 pm

    I realize everyone struggles and most often the struggle helps us reach our goals. Thank goodness for some that have struggled and brought about greatness for mankind.

    Reply
  29. Sarah Crowther permalink
    29/08/2017 5:05 pm

    For some it can be hard to see past struggles. For me, I know I’ve struggled before and will come back on top no matter what the circumstance.

    Reply
  30. MarciaF permalink
    29/08/2017 5:23 pm

    Timely post with the struggles of people during Hurricane Harvey. They will need more strength as time goes on.

    Reply
  31. rochkirstin permalink
    29/08/2017 5:33 pm

    Struggle is what makes life more interesting. There are many obstacles that come in our way. I see them as tests that motivate us to go further.

    Reply
  32. kalliamanika permalink
    29/08/2017 7:36 pm

    You know, life is a struggle too, but you can never stop trying. Same goes for motivation. We have to keep going, even on the days we have no desire to do so. Actually, especially on those days!

    Reply
  33. Leaves, Loaves, and Life permalink
    29/08/2017 7:43 pm

    Without struggle it is hard to develop our beliefs, coping mechanisms, and much more. Facing certain struggles is how we learn to grow and succeed.

    Reply
  34. Yes Missy permalink
    29/08/2017 9:06 pm

    I love the story with the egg, coffee bean and potato, it really makes you think about how to handle things.

    Reply
  35. Samantha permalink
    29/08/2017 11:02 pm

    I really Iike all three stories you used to illustrate your point about struggles. They’re all helpful reminders that we all go through struggles & even if we don’t always see it, there is a reason for them.

    Reply
  36. kaidigger permalink
    30/08/2017 1:27 am

    Amazing post to motivate me, i think without struggle we never get the taste of success and If there is no struggle, there is no progress.

    Reply
  37. fashionenzymes permalink
    30/08/2017 2:04 am

    It’s interesting. I would love to join such events as this is best source to enhance our skills. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  38. Tatiana Sieff permalink
    30/08/2017 4:40 am

    Thank you, as ever, for the motivation <3

    Reply
  39. Joanna permalink
    30/08/2017 4:41 am

    I agree with the moral of your story. We are the only ones who chose how a situation will make us feel. We can choose to be weak, we can choose to ignore it, we can choose to solve it later. But it’s not about how the problem makes us feel, it’s how we choose to let it or not affect us

    Reply
  40. Tanvi Rastogi (@Tanviidotcom) permalink
    30/08/2017 4:59 am

    Everyone’s struggle is so different. Sometimes one is fighting the outside demons and sometimes demons are in our mind. But like your first story’s moral – it is our attitude towards those struggles and the lessons learnt from them is what defines us.

    Reply
  41. Aditi permalink
    30/08/2017 5:08 am

    We all go through some kind of struggles in life, some learn from it and come out stronger and some adapt to their situations and learn new ways of living life to the fullest. Eitherways, struggles make you stronger. Thanks for sharing this post and motivating for this week’s struggles! 🙂

    Reply
  42. Clarie permalink
    30/08/2017 5:56 am

    Motivational indeed. Keep up the good work

    Reply
  43. Kelly permalink
    30/08/2017 6:10 am

    There’s certainly no success without struggle! It makes your successes all the sweeter when you know how hard you’ve worked for it.

    Reply
  44. leahhhh13 permalink
    30/08/2017 6:39 am

    I appreciate this blog post. You explained the word struggle so graciously. Struggling does build a strength that you never thought you had. It’s also a piece of your achievements.

    Reply
  45. Chei Pangan permalink
    30/08/2017 7:37 am

    I have a lot of struggles in my life. I born as a simple and ordinary person and we are not a rich. And now i have 2 kids and i have 4 siblings to take care of because our mother left us for work. But still, i still dont give up because i need to be strong for them.

    Reply
  46. Carol Cassara permalink
    30/08/2017 7:54 am

    Struggle is a great teacher, especially when it comes to success. I think the more we struggle, the more we learn how to overcome obstacles that come between us and our goals in life.

    Reply
  47. TheMrsTee permalink
    30/08/2017 8:15 am

    I think struggle is a natural part of life. It’s only through our struggles and efforts to push past and through them that we learn how strong and powerful we truly are.

    Reply
  48. A World to Travel ✈ (@aworldtotravel1) permalink
    30/08/2017 9:11 am

    Loved the short video!!!
    Thanks so much for sharing it on your article. Visuals always help a lot 🙂
    Hugs

    x
    Inma

    Reply
  49. Elisha Fernandez permalink
    30/08/2017 9:53 am

    The correlation between struggle and strength is so meaningful to me. There is opposition in all things, and everything is linked to each other.

    Reply
  50. Andrea permalink
    30/08/2017 11:41 am

    Thank you of all of the motivation for the week! I especially enjoyed the last Buddha story you posted.

    Reply
  51. nattsjourneyblog permalink
    30/08/2017 12:46 pm

    Great post. we all need motivating on a monday, well any day of the week. saved to help me in them times of need

    Reply
  52. Nick permalink
    30/08/2017 3:09 pm

    I enjoyed reading this. Nothing worth having in life comes without any struggle and perseverance that’s for sure.

    Reply
  53. eliza permalink
    30/08/2017 4:09 pm

    I so love reading this post.. I even share it on my timeline.. and quotes that you included are inspiring and would really affect the readers.

    Reply
  54. roamingrequired permalink
    30/08/2017 4:17 pm

    Some nice words of wisdom for us all to consider.

    Reply
  55. April permalink
    30/08/2017 5:35 pm

    Really interesting analogy about the potato, egg and coffee. I’ve actually never heard that one until now!

    Reply
  56. Jhilmil permalink
    30/08/2017 5:40 pm

    What a wonderful read. Struggle in an inherent part in every one’s life and the success matters in how we deal with struggle.. How we get up and not let failure take over.

    Reply
  57. Fred permalink
    30/08/2017 6:15 pm

    Very good symbol for a struggle. It is not just an uphill climb, but pushing a load uphill is more of a struggle. We all have our struggles in life, but with a positive attitude these become learning experiences.

    Reply
  58. Tamanna permalink
    30/08/2017 6:43 pm

    This was such a heavy read this morning, I confess 🙌 However, that line… work, creative work sucks the life out of you – couldn’t agree more! Been there & feel that completely!

    Reply
  59. ashunexpected permalink
    30/08/2017 6:51 pm

    When I think of struggle, I think of something that you must work through and it won’t be easy. However, I know that it is not impossible. Struggle is a necessity of life. It isn’t always easy.

    Reply
  60. Melanie Poulos Walsh permalink
    30/08/2017 7:31 pm

    I wasn’t familiar with that Oprah quote before now, but I love it. I definitely feel my struggles have made me stronger. Grateful (most days) for them all.

    Reply
  61. Made Adayasa permalink
    30/08/2017 7:51 pm

    Interesting and great motivation. I like when I read the story or Buddha .

    Reply
  62. mitchellejuaban permalink
    30/08/2017 8:23 pm

    Struggle is a ubiquitous and inevitable part of life. And I guess a success can only be called success in its real sense and could only be truly felt after a struggle.

    Reply
  63. alisonrost permalink
    30/08/2017 10:50 pm

    My son was an addict from the time he was 15 until around the age of 22. Those years were a true hell (for both of us, really). In the dark of night, I couldn’t help but feel angry. Angry at him, angry that this was our family’s experience, angry that I couldn’t fix it no matter how hard I tried. It all changed one day sitting on my grandmother’s porch. She said “You know, God can’t use those he hasn’t tested. He needs to know you can cut it when the going gets tough. Sweetheart, I have a feeling he’s prepping you one heck of a mission” I’ve never thought of struggle in the same way since. x

    Reply
    • Eliz@MirthandMotivation permalink*
      06/09/2017 11:25 am

      That is a remarkable story… I’m glad that Grandma cut right through the anger… He couldn’t help himself at the time. Hope all is well now.

      Reply
  64. Clint permalink
    30/08/2017 10:50 pm

    It can be hard to be motivated sometimes, but I have found that making a list and focusing on the important stuff really helps.

    Reply
  65. oursamyatrao permalink
    31/08/2017 12:04 am

    The concept of the video is so awesome. I love the concept.

    Reply
  66. ratishagoyal permalink
    31/08/2017 1:09 am

    History is defined and designed by those who struggle and persevere to bring a change. You article reminded me of a saying by Gandhi, ” Be the change that you want to bring in this world.” An inspiring read indeed

    Reply
  67. Hellocuppies permalink
    31/08/2017 2:30 am

    I love the story about the potatoes, eggs and coffee. I also just let my son read it too who was totally amazed by it! He’s had a tough few weeks so was perfect timing!

    Reply
  68. Fashionable Librarian permalink
    31/08/2017 2:33 am

    Struggle is a part of life. How you deal with it can make a huge difference

    Reply
  69. Ronnie Epsi permalink
    31/08/2017 4:22 am

    Loved the story about the boiling water. I think I’m the potato.. I always go into things motivated and strong, but I lose the motivation and get anxious very quickly… it’s an ongoing issue that keeps me in a quitting loop. :/

    Reply
  70. roadaviator permalink
    31/08/2017 5:07 am

    Nice one. It is very true that life on every nook and corner shows us the struggle. That’s what we are meant for. It is the struggles we experience in life that fire our passion and our ambition.

    Reply
  71. eclectickristal permalink
    31/08/2017 6:42 am

    This was a great story. I love what the Buddha aid at the end.I have been learning to deal with my inner struggles.

    Reply
  72. DecoPix (@TiinaTibs) permalink
    31/08/2017 8:29 am

    Struggling is certainly something we all face in a way or another. There are so many moments and occasions where I struggle. I’m not sure if I struggle more than before but in a different situations and different ways as well.

    Reply
  73. Cara (@StylishGeek) permalink
    31/08/2017 8:38 am

    Struggle is definitely something we all go through. When I read your post it reminded me of a lesson I was teaching my kid (which is a passed down lesson from my Dad) that everything new thing I try there will always be a struggle but the key thing is the positive attitude to face it and to try my best.

    Reply
  74. Anjali Chawla permalink
    31/08/2017 8:49 am

    What a lovely post! Struggle is certainly an integral part of success. No pain. No gain. I loved the quote by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. Make Friends with Your Mind & Struggle story is so valid and inspiring.

    Reply
  75. April Smith Decheine permalink
    31/08/2017 8:58 am

    Mondays are a great day to power up for a motivated busy week. There are some great quotes on Mondays and being motivated as well as books to read.

    Reply
  76. London Mumma permalink
    31/08/2017 9:08 am

    I believe we all go through struggle and hardship, but it is overcoming it that makes us all stronger, that why it is good to have a great support network around you.

    Reply
  77. franckxethee permalink
    31/08/2017 9:10 am

    Struggle is a part of success. It’s make success and victory sweeter and also keeps us stronger for bigger challenges.

    Reply
  78. Jojo Hua permalink
    31/08/2017 9:21 am

    I love these stories. I know all too well the struggles of business and life in general. Though I realise that not everyone can see the pain that I have been through; this also means that others go through their own pain and the world does not see it. We should practice kindness to all those we meet since we don’t know what they are going through.

    Reply
  79. Keeping Up With Candy permalink
    31/08/2017 9:48 am

    We should teach kids at a young age about how to deal with struggle as well as when things don’t go their way. This way, they will be able to cope with life as adults!

    Reply
  80. Dunja permalink
    31/08/2017 10:29 am

    I love the story about daughter and her dad’s valuable lesson. Simple story but it has such a deep meaning.

    Reply
  81. StephJ permalink
    31/08/2017 10:49 am

    I love your struggle to success story it hold alot of truth. nothing in my life that was worth anything was ever gained without lots of struggle to get there. Sometimes we forget that when things are hardest.

    Reply
  82. helerinablogs permalink
    31/08/2017 11:14 am

    I love the story of the water pots, it really is so lovely. I had heard the story of the potato, eggs and coffee before and often think of it when going through hard times.

    Reply
  83. Cassandra Rose permalink
    31/08/2017 9:22 pm

    This is such a great idea! I’m pretty sure everyone feels the same about Mondays (my face in the mornings is similar to grumpy cat’s) so it’d be cool to turn that around and give it more of a positive feeling.

    Reply
  84. Anastasia Golovko permalink
    31/08/2017 11:20 pm

    I like this choice of work for Motivation Mondays. It is interesting that without struggle there wouldn’t be a success. Some argue is is not true. I agree with a statement, because of the shift in perception that happens when we overcome a struggle. That moment of a victory is a meaning of success.

    Reply
  85. Veethee Dixit permalink
    31/08/2017 11:21 pm

    Honestly, when I hear the word struggle I don’t think negatively. Struggle is just a negative word for efforts you have to undergo to achieve something you want. Anyway, the stories were quite motivational. Thanks a lot!
    Regards: Veethee

    Reply
  86. Kavita Singh permalink
    01/09/2017 12:46 am

    I really like your thoughts on Monday Motivation. Yes its so true that worst experience is the best experience.

    Reply
  87. beccajtalbot permalink
    01/09/2017 9:20 am

    I often struggle with motivation on Monday – especially if I’ve had a very busy active weekend 🙁 this post was really helpful.

    Reply
  88. Radif Rahman permalink
    01/09/2017 9:21 am

    Very helpful,as well as a very motivational post. Learned a lot from your post.

    Reply
  89. Rebecca Swenor permalink
    01/09/2017 9:35 am

    Struggles in life to me means just things you learn from. They are not permanent and there is always away around them. Thanks for sharing the information and thoughts.

    Reply
  90. Parenting Healthy permalink
    01/09/2017 9:59 am

    I love Oprah quote. We stop and focus negatively on struggles instead of focusing on changing our mind set. Mind set should be focused on beginning with childhood

    Reply
  91. David Elliott permalink
    01/09/2017 10:38 am

    Some very interesting stories about struggle and difficulties. I love how these stories transform what seems like hardship into something of beauty. I really like the one about knowing the person dropping water and so planting was done on one side to take advantage of that fact.

    Reply
  92. Steve permalink
    01/09/2017 11:16 am

    You pack so much good stuff into your blogs every time. That opening quote and short video are great.

    Reply
  93. Courtney Blacher permalink
    01/09/2017 12:10 pm

    I just love your Motivation Monday articles. They really are so motivating, thank you for posting them.

    Reply
  94. Tiffany Yong permalink
    01/09/2017 7:35 pm

    I’m familiar with the potato, egg and coffee story and love it. However, for the Buddha one, I’m not quite sure what it meant… Meaning we should let our struggles and troubles settle on it’s own and our mind will be clear? Hope you can enlighten me~

    Reply
  95. Corinne & Kirsty 🌸 (@corinnekirsty) permalink
    02/09/2017 6:38 am

    I do agree that life would be to easy and boring without struggles. Therefore, I would not call them struggle but more challenges? Challenges that help you achieve greater things. However, some things that happen in life can be define as struggles as they are super sad, devastating or really hard to overcome

    Reply
  96. Nadie permalink
    02/09/2017 6:53 am

    Mondays are my happy days.. Its the day we never go anywhere LOL travel life at its best 🙂

    Reply
  97. Dyana @adebtfreejourney permalink
    02/09/2017 7:15 am

    While going through my struggles it’s hard to see the positive, but I wouldn’t be who I am had I not gone through them! I’m thankful for the work ethic and determination they’ve given me.

    Reply
  98. quentrica permalink
    02/09/2017 8:24 am

    Great insight on motivation and struggle! Thanks!! I definitely needed this!

    Reply
  99. Saidy Flores permalink
    02/09/2017 12:00 pm

    I must be one of a kind lol i absolutely love Mondays, its like a reset button and a fresh start, i also love the “Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.” Oprah Winfrey quote so much! So true and motivating!

    Reply
  100. Fashion Panache by Bhushavali permalink
    02/09/2017 2:03 pm

    When I think of struggle, I think of my forefathers who fought for our independence, esp Mahatma Gandhi! The struggles that we face today is nothing compared to what they faced that day!

    Reply
  101. Via Bella permalink
    02/09/2017 2:27 pm

    I really have struggles — but remembering that they lead to strength like Oprah’s quote is a good reminder. Thanks for sharing this post. Very helpful for me right now.

    Reply
  102. meunfinished permalink
    02/09/2017 2:42 pm

    Those were very valuable lessons in each story. I like the first one the most as it resonates more with me: We have indeed the choice when it comes to our own reaction to things that happen in our lives. Thanks for those perspectives, good lessons to pass along 🙂

    Reply
  103. Ashleya Nicole permalink
    02/09/2017 4:32 pm

    Such motivational quotes. And the short story about the Indian girl was moving. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  104. lucicoo permalink
    02/09/2017 7:35 pm

    I believe every human being struggle with either the small things or big things. One of my struggles that I have to deal with is waking up.

    Reply
  105. kage2015 permalink
    03/09/2017 6:17 am

    My struggle is different from your struggle. Doesn’t make either of ours easier. Good tips to keep going.

    Reply
  106. Tori permalink
    03/09/2017 7:01 am

    What a lot of wise words! I enjoy stories that teach a message

    Reply
  107. Kyla Matton Osborne permalink
    03/09/2017 12:32 pm

    I love the story of the chef. Creating change in the boiling waters of our daily struggles is difficult. But when we can change things around us for the better, it’s something worth celebrating.

    Reply
  108. hannanabanana permalink
    03/09/2017 1:01 pm

    Wow! The stories of struggle and quotes were very powerful

    Reply
  109. elenasts permalink
    03/09/2017 1:19 pm

    I wish that I didn`t go through the struggles that I have been through, but then again they have made me the person I am today.

    Reply
  110. Hrakaridi permalink
    04/09/2017 3:50 am

    I really love your posts! After reading every “Monday Motivation”, i feel so positive and free. Thank you 🙂

    Reply
  111. waitingforrain28 permalink
    04/09/2017 9:49 am

    We all have our own struggles, but I do think that staying motivated is extremely important and your post has some good suggestions for that.

    Reply
  112. uprunforlife permalink
    04/09/2017 2:30 pm

    Dealing with chronic pain on a constant basis often means a daily sometimes hourly struggle for myself. I try so hard to remain positive and not let it win. Some days I even fake a smile and tell others that I am ok just so they don’t have to hear about my struggle.

    Reply
  113. Blair Villanueva permalink
    04/09/2017 8:41 pm

    We are blessed to be born in this beautiful world, and it is our duty to make that life worth it. Struggles and challenges are part of life. Without it, life is useless.

    Reply
  114. Words of a Texas Nerd permalink
    04/09/2017 10:02 pm

    This sounds very much like the story of my life lately. Constantly struggling and feeling as though I’m soft and weak. Until I look back and see that I’ve changed and hardened instead. Though I struggle more so to be the coffee bean and change what’s around me instead. I love this story. And the words you shared. Its a reminder I needed greatly.

    Reply
  115. Jessica Barnett permalink
    05/09/2017 8:00 am

    Thank you for the article it helped so much! Everyone struggles it’s just about how you come back up that counts.

    Reply
  116. Girl in Therapy permalink
    05/09/2017 10:06 am

    I would like to say a few things:

    One of my recovery mantras is “The struggle is real”. As a recovering Codependent, most of my life I dismissed myself, my existence, my being. This mantra helps to validate me whenever I’m going through a tough time.

    There are some people who think if they show they’re struggling, they will appear as weak in the eyes of others. So they hide it all inside.

    While there are those who think that sufferance is what makes them “good people” (due to religious reasons).

    I feel that neither the above two groups of people are right. Struggle is a part of life, there is nothing wrong showing others that you’re facing certain difficulty in life. Also, struggling doesn’t mean you’re more noble, because if you intentionally want to suffer, doesn’t that make you a martyr (Martyr Syndrome)?

    I could go on. This is a good topic. Thank you for listening.

    Reply
  117. tararaquelfuller permalink
    05/09/2017 11:33 am

    struggles help define the strength we carry with us in the future and the courage we have to face the new struggles we have yet to know!

    Reply
  118. Ana Vukosavljevic permalink
    05/09/2017 3:11 pm

    What an amazing post! For me, the struggle is a way to success. But the only problem is that we don’t know that’s our way of succeeding.

    I loved this post, It’s really motivating and it’s really what we all need for Monday!

    Can’t wait for another one!

    Reply
  119. lavandamichelle permalink
    06/09/2017 3:28 pm

    Everybody could use a little motivation. My niece could benefit from the story between father and daughter. I love it so much. I’m copying it and placing it on designer paper and giving it to several teens I know. I also shared with my hubby and he almost cried. It reminded him how his mother gave him lessons.

    Reply
  120. tinahogangrant permalink
    06/09/2017 11:32 pm

    I left a post earlier today using my phone and now I don’t see it??? Very motivating for many people. I’m sure many will benefit from it. Climbing the ladder is what it’s all about.

    Reply
  121. Mommy Engineering permalink
    07/09/2017 9:12 am

    Wow, I really love the quotes in this post because they’re motivational and inspirational. Every time I think of the word, “Struggle.” I don’t really think such positive words. I actually think of Pain and maybe that’s just my situation and the mindset I’m currently in. I can see now that a struggle is a way to success and it’s biblical to me. We have life long suffering on Earth for an eternity of the opposite in Heaven. Such a thought-provoking post and I really love that it changed my mind about the word, “Struggle” for Pain to Positive (Success)!

    Reply
    • Eliz@MirthandMotivation permalink*
      08/09/2017 1:15 am

      I’m glad it helped you too. Here is what I’m adding to my post: Struggle is a heavy word and it brings back memories for a lot of people; both good and bad. I have had my share of it on many levels and this post was a way to revisit the subject and show how it can help fire the imagination and give us a sense of gratitude about our lives. In poor countries, people learn to be inventive because of the enormous challenges and struggles they face. So it has both it’s innovative/bright side and its enervating/dark side. I started the post with a lot of ideas about the nature of struggle and how it helps us grow, heal and become more compassionate. I added my quotes and stories, and wrote part of the first paragraph and it took on a life of its own. I still plan to update the post.:)

      Reply
  122. Astute Copy Blogging permalink
    07/09/2017 9:17 am

    Hi Elizabeth,

    Love the story about the Buddha and his disciple! Sometimes the best things require little or no effort! We just need to be patient. Wait. Persevere. And wait some more!

    Best regards,

    Pedro

    Reply
  123. Anup Das permalink
    07/09/2017 7:05 pm

    What a lovely post! The struggle is certainly an integral part of success. No pain. No gain. I loved the quote by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. Make Friends with Your Mind & Struggle story is so valid and inspiring.

    Reply
  124. tumandok permalink
    11/09/2017 5:04 am

    When I read this on struggle what I have in mind is the challenge, the test in any form when being passed or overcome spells success. Struggle and success have “you” in common. It purports it’s you to struggle to reach your ambition or goal in life. Gil Camporazo

    Reply
  125. I Love Paars by: Lee permalink
    11/09/2017 5:42 am

    The bravest and strongest people I know are the ones who have been defeated, and who have lost many times.

    Reply
  126. Gbolabo Adetunji permalink
    12/09/2017 8:51 am

    This is just about what I needed to read today. It is very inspiring. It reminds me that my story is not over yet. Thank you so much.

    Reply
  127. Jane permalink
    14/09/2017 12:16 pm

    It seems to me that the more I struggle with something the better the result. It always feels difficult in the middle. I don’t know who said it originally but I always think to myself. “it will all be okay in the end, if it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”

    Reply
  128. Tasheena @SimplyTasheena.com permalink
    23/09/2017 5:28 am

    I really enjoyed reading this post. You always have really thought-provoking content. I agree that you have to remain vigilant.

    Reply

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