6 Dec 2024
How I Turn Within to Face Challenges
Life has a way of throwing curveballs when we least expect them, doesn’t it? Whether it’s a personal setback, a global crisis, or one of those nagging situations that feel completely out of our hands, these moments can make us feel helpless and overwhelmed. I’ve been there—more times than I care to admit. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the best way to handle tough times isn’t through resistance or brute force. It’s by softening, turning inward, and working on what’s within my control.
Good for: Finding inner peace and resilience when facing challenges beyond your control.
Best used by: You
Today, I want to share how I’ve navigated some of my hardest moments and how you, too, can find peace and personal growth in the face of life’s challenges.
Learning the Art of Acceptance
For a long time, I thought the only way to handle difficulties was to push harder, fight more, and somehow force things to change. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t work. Life has a funny way of reminding us that some things just aren’t ours to control.
What I’ve come to realise is that acceptance is a superpower. And no, I’m not talking about throwing in the towel or pretending everything’s fine when it’s not. I mean truly accepting the reality of what’s happening—acknowledging it without resistance or judgment.
One quote that’s always stuck with me is from the philosopher Epictetus: "It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters." That simple truth changed the way I approach challenges. When I stopped fighting against the things I couldn’t change, I found I had so much more energy to focus on what I could control—my mindset, my actions, and my own sense of peace.
I’ll admit, my first instinct when things go wrong is to look for external solutions. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably done this too—trying to fix everything “out there” so you can feel better “in here.” But more often than not, the answers we need aren’t out there at all. They’re within us.
For me, reflection is a lifesaver. When I take a step back and really think about what I’m feeling, why I’m reacting a certain way, and what this situation might be teaching me, I start to see things differently. It’s not always comfortable, but it’s always worth it.
I find journaling particularly helpful during these times. I ask myself questions like:
What’s really within my control here?
What emotions am I holding onto, and why?
How can I grow through this experience?
These little moments of self-reflection don’t make the challenges disappear, but they help me navigate them with a clearer mind and a more open heart.
Mindset Shifts That Have Made a Difference
Over the years, I’ve tried a lot of different strategies to stay grounded during hard times. These are the ones that have truly stuck with me:
Adopting a Growth Mindset I’ve learned to see challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles. It’s not always easy, but I try to remind myself that every difficulty is a chance to learn, adapt, and become stronger.
Focusing on the Present Moment Have you ever caught yourself spiralling—worrying about what might happen or replaying what’s already happened? I have, more times than I can count. But practising mindfulness, even in small ways, has helped me stay grounded. I remind myself that the present moment is the only one I truly have control over.
Reframing My Perspective Instead of asking, “Why is this happening to me?” I ask, “What is this teaching me?” It’s such a simple shift, but it changes everything. Suddenly, I’m not a victim of my circumstances—I’m a student of them.
Practising Gratitude This one sounds cliché, but it works. Even in the middle of a tough time, there’s always something to be grateful for. I try to reflect on three things every day, no matter how small. It doesn’t erase the challenges, but it reminds me there’s still good in the world.
Why Softness is Strength
In a world that often glorifies toughness and hustle, I’ve come to appreciate the quiet power of softness. Softness isn’t about being weak or passive—it’s about being adaptable, compassionate, and patient with yourself and others.
For me, “soft solutions” look like:
Showing myself compassion when I don’t have it all figured out.
Being patient with the process, even when I want things to change overnight.
Leaning on others for support, because vulnerability doesn’t make us weaker—it makes us human.
Hard times don’t always need hard solutions. Sometimes, they call for a gentler approach.
I’ll be honest: suffering isn’t easy to talk about. It can feel heavy and endless, like a weight you’ll never be able to lift. But over time, I’ve come to see it differently. Suffering, as painful as it is, often holds the seeds of our greatest growth.
I’m reminded of a line from Rumi: "The wound is the place where the Light enters you." When I think about my hardest moments, I can see how they’ve shaped me—how they’ve helped me grow in ways I never would have otherwise. That doesn’t mean suffering is good, but it does mean it can lead to something meaningful if we let it.
Finding Peace Within
I don’t have all the answers, and I’m still figuring this out as I go. But one thing I know for sure is that peace doesn’t come from fixing everything around us. It comes from learning to trust ourselves, to accept what we can’t control, and to grow through the challenges we face.
So, next time life feels overwhelming, I hope you’ll try turning inward. Reflect on what you can control, soften your approach, and trust that even in the hardest times, there’s room for growth.
Let me leave you with one final thought: What would happen if you stopped fighting the storm and started finding your calm within it? What could you let go of today to make room for peace?
Thank you for reading.
Dionne
PS. Check out Reevew, the Personal Growth toolkit, dedicated to helping you master yourself, by answering thought-provoking questions to know and grow yourself. https://reevew.co
