Frederick Douglass once stated, “Without a struggle, there can be no progress.” I think it’s fair to say that everybody has some kind of dream or goal they want to accomplish in life. This may be something as simple as graduating school or finding a job. For many, this goal is to find eternal happiness in their life for themselves as well as with a family. Sure, it may sound simple, and everybody has heard the worn out line of plenty fish in the sea. However, the reality of reaching this goal is that it is a very difficult task. Life isn’t easy and there are those inevitable curveballs thrown your way that you just can’t seem to hit. Whether you know it or want to admit it, these struggles are helping mold the person you become and shape the life you are going to live. How you handle these struggles is entirely up to you but throughout my life to this point I feel as though I have already learned ways to take these struggles that seem like they are going to sink your ship and turn them around to better the life you want to live and learn from them.

1. Give the Glory to God

If there is one person you can always lean on in times of struggle it is God. Religious or not, he sees you, hears you, and wants to be there to help you. But in order for God to help you, you have to be willing to help yourself. One way to do this is by taking pride and gratitude in what you do have in life. Although you may be struggling with something and it is all you can focus on, there are positives that must be found too. Find the good in what you have and your struggles will seem smaller. Matthew 25:23 says, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” If you are struggling with something in your life just remember that not everything in your life is bad or going wrong, find the things that are going right and focus in on those. When you find the good in your life and learn to work with the struggles, God will recognize that and reward you.

2. Surround Yourself With People You Enjoy

One of the simplest ways to help cope with any struggle is to surround yourself with people who make you happy. Whether it is friends, family, or fur humans, if you put yourself in the situation to not dwell on whatever struggle you are having, chances are it will work.

3. Do What Makes You Happy

Much like surrounding yourself with the right people, doing what makes you happy is a surefire way to at the minimum distract yourself from the struggles you are facing in life. Everybody has something they particularly enjoy doing so why not take advantage of those things to help you cope? Life is a blessing and it’s time to start treating it that way.