In every part of the world, the ways of life of people are different. There are a variety of diverse cultures, languages, and people, but guess what, one thing is common in everyone's life on the planet. This ranges from the period of infancy to adulthood. What is this that is common? Challenges. These challenges that all men (humanity) face are what I personally refer to as the storms of life.
Per my own analyses and observations, through the many books I have read, and my personal experiences which I have had, life itself is to be considered as a hard ground. Why am I saying so? The storms of life come differently in many ways to all people, and the fact to have in mind is that every human has a different kind of challenge or storm they encounter in every chapter of their lives. The honest truth I can tell you is that, whether rich or poor or a middle-income earner, one way or the other, you'd go through some hurdles.
We keep ourselves busy each and every blessed day, moving from cradle to grave, and fighting for a purpose. This could be issues about finance, depression, health-related issues, and many more.
I have entitled this blog "The Desert Pass", a well-written article focused on sharing briefly with you a few objectives, intentions, schemes, projects, plans, and propositions that you can consider anytime you come across challenges in your life.
What you will see in this publication
- My opinions and understanding of storms of life
- Aspects of our lives faced with life's challenges
- Characteristics of Challenges Faced in Life
- Effects of challenges (storms of life) on our lives
- How to deal with life challenges
- How to overcome life challenges effectively
- A tip to help you
My opinions and understanding of storms of life
The phrase storms of life, in my opinion, is a metaphorical statement that means challenges, difficulties, or turmoils that we face as humans during life's journey. It can also be considered as a challenging turbulent, and unpredictable experience (unforeseen life situations) that people face throughout their lifetime. In some parts of the world like Ghana, the youth have this hope and determination to become successful as much as possible. Most of them dream of building a home of their own, having the money they want, etc. They have this belief and enthusiasm that they are okay if they can overcome some obstacles in their lives immediately. Let me be honest with you, frankly speaking, these things do not end, I mean the challenges that we face daily.
Why the Title Desert Pass?
I was watching a documentary on YouTube about the Sahara desert and other types when I had this inspiration. The reflections of the desert with its dangers that came to mind gave me inspiration. Comparing the desert to the Human Life. The desert is one place of a kind where humans find it very grueling to travel around. Multitudes of people who walk through the desert encounter dangers that are unbearable. There is the scorch from the sun which results in extreme thirst. Lack of water in the body causes dehydration which could result in death and loss of life. A person in the desert could be attacked by poisonous animals or get displaced. The title DESERT PASS was selected to depict how gradually we make it through the deserts in our lives.
Aspects of our lives faced with storms of life
As humans, we are confronted with life's strong winds at every angle of our lives. We either pass through hard times or difficult moments. This could be in the area of pursuing our career, family, friends and relatives, finances, social lives, our emotions, as well as our spiritual lives.
How are we affected Emotionally?
Emotionally, a series of our daily living is impaired by people, sorrow or anger, destruction of relationships with friends, family, or loved ones, distortion of communications, and other lingering feelings that we are unaware of. One way or the other, we suffer hurt from people, heartbreaks, and burdens that cause us so much pain. These pains can be due to what someone said to you, or their actions towards you.
How to navigate through emotional breakdowns.
Our emotions are just like our guides, they tame us, groom us, grow us, and make us stronger the more we build on them. Some emotions are our weaknesses, and some are our strengths. I vividly recall the story of Philomena, a twenty-one-year-old in my vicinity who ended her own life because of a guy she loved who cheated on her. These are the very things in our lives that we should prevent, walk away from, or build on. How then can you overcome the emotional hurts that come knocking at your door?
1. Having someone to talk to: Having a trusted friend, a counselor, an elderly person, a beloved and a favorite person to tell your feelings all the time is the best solution to the emotional breakdowns that you may be suffering. Some encouragement from them or advice will always help.
2. Keep yourself busy: In my own life, I have a small circle of friends. Even these friends are ones who I barely hear from or talk to. So what helps me most in my everyday life is keeping myself busy. I help myself by busily working, teaching, writing a book, or a poem, or taking an online course. These keeps my my mind off from thoughts and the feeling of loneliness or boredom.
3. Engage with your hobby: Hobbies are the things that we love doing most. These hobbies could be swimming, reading books, jogging, performing arts, drawing, footballing, and dancing. When feeling hurt, one thing you can do to keep your mind, and self at ease is to do what you like doing most. You can go to the beachside and take a stroll. If you love nature watching, it is best you walk around admiring and appreciating nature. You could buy some flowers, nurture, and grow them if you like gardening. I am very certain, this will be of great help.
How do the storms of life affect us Financially?
Sometimes, it is hard to comprehend a little, but being an adult without capital is very disturbing. Imagine not being able to afford your daily males, and pay for hospital bills, or debts. Imagine owing some fees and being unable to pay. The lack of finance in a person's life causes a lot of damage to the person. His status in society and level of respect is drastically undermined. He is disrespected by the many and overlooked.
How can people be helped financially?
How do you and I help the people around you who need financial help? I remember during my days in the university how hard it was sometimes to afford a male. This was due to an insufficient balance in my account. On a few occasions, one has to go hungry. It is very disappointing to find yourself in such a situation. The fact is, these things do not only happen in the university but all around us in our communities and neighborhoods. Individuals who are not strong enough tend to give up on life.
How then can we individuals in the community who are capable support such people?
1. Set up a community savings account that they can easily depend on: This is not to say that laziness will be encouraged. Let me elaborate more on this point. When a community sets up funds in a community savings account whereby the community head or assembly is in charge of, the level of poverty will be limited in our vicinities. In this scenario, in case of emergencies, the person in question can approach the assembly with proof and seek help. If you are a close friend who can help, why not provide support also?
2. Increase the level of job employment in communities: How will a higher level of job employment affect the lives of people? Indirectly, opening more jobs for employment will give others the opportunity to work and get paid. With that in mind, the individual will save part of his salary which he will rely on when faced with challenges financially.
Some points to help you deal with life Challenges.
- First of all, I will advise personally that you learn how to accept your emotions
- Self-care is very important and therefore must be practiced. That is, you must take good care of yourself both physically and mentally.
- You must learn to have a mature mindset. Instead of seeing challenges as obstacles, begin to view challenges as an opportunity for you to grow.
- Focus on what is present and future. Avoid thinking too much about the past and relying on it.
- You must also appreciate the good things in your life. Your strong health, sight, or anything at all that is pleasing to you.
- Try to stay healthy always and all the time
- Set goals in your life and always work hard to achieve your purpose and plans in life
- Do not stress yourself too much over petty issues that could easily be solved
- Learn to control and manage the pains that you might be suffering from hurt.
Problem-solving approaches you can employ to tackle your challenges.
- You must identify the challenges clearly, and how they are affecting you.
- After identifying the problems, go on to analyze them and break them down
- Approach family, friends, loved ones, and a close relation or a counselor and then seek support
Here is a tip to help you
Mostly, we feel alone with the thought that we are our own and have no one to care for us or comfort us. Here is a tip to help you overcome all forms of challenges and pains in life. I have experienced rejection and weaknesses, emotional pains, spiritual disconnection, and loneliness myself at a point in my life. Guess what helped me, that was when I discovered how beautiful it is to be totally dependent on GOD. That was when I saw and came to realize the importance of building a close relationship with God. The tip I want to leave with you is that you must also learn to totally rely on God in terms of finances, and emotions, physically and emotionally. Daily communication, total reliance on Him, and having the mindset that he is with you will keep you away from emotional hurts. The scriptures make us know He is the provider of our needs, and therefore, God will always be available to come through for us.
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