Choose Your Hard

I think a big part of adulting is accepting the fact that life is hard.  This used to be common knowledge.  However, I find that increasingly, there is an expectation that life must be as close to perfect as possible, and if it’s not, life and all those involved must be dissected, psychoanalyzed and preferably diagnosed.  This is utterly ridiculous.  Moreover, the longer one avoids reality, the longer one stagnates their own resilience, growth and maturation.

The truth is that when one accepts the reality that much of life is a challenge, they then get to choose how to go about their hardship.  For example, as an anonymous source so beautifully articulated: 

Marriage is hard.  Divorce is hard.  Choose your hard.
Obesity is hard.  Being fit is hard.  Choose your hard.
Being in debt is hard.  Being financially disciplined is hard.  Choose your hard.
Communication is hard.  Not communicating is hard.  Choose your hard.
Life will never be easy.
It will always be hard.
But we can choose our hard.
Pick wisely.

While I love the above statement, I also recognize it’s easier stated than accomplished.  However, that’s where good therapy can be of assistance.  To be able to identify, what is the hard in your life that you want to work toward?  What is currently getting in the way of you accomplishing the things you want most?  And ultimately, how can you empower yourself to live your most empowered life and ultimately, choose the hard that is most aligned with your deepest values and truest character.  Life is hard.  Choose your hard.