Thoughts on rising above your current struggle

Last Updated on November 1, 2021 by Hollie Giglietti

Rise above your pain, your challenges, your disappointment and your failures

Do all those painful years feel like lost time and you’re panicked thinking “how did I even get here??”

Someday, the pain, the challenge and the hurt will lessen.

Until then, don’t give up! Someday you WILL wake up to a brighter day and all those “wasted” days will have so much purpose. 

When it seems to all be burning down around you…

The first time I witnessed what’s called a controlled burning in a woodland area, I was on a long distance bike ride. Previous bike rides, on this same path, were filled with the most beautiful wildflowers and tall swaying grasses. Each ride brought me incredible peace and tranquility.

The day I biked around the bend and saw all of that beauty in burning embers and smoke, I was in shock. Everything had been burned to the ground.

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The beauty was gone. 

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This image stuck with me for a long time until a period of my life when I felt like everything around me had burned to the ground. I was left standing there, feeling like there was nothing left and with so many unanswered questions.

Purpose in the burnings  

While doing research on why woodlands and other areas are intentionally burned down, I discovered that this is a very intentional process.

Science Today’s description of what is called a “controlled burn” is “Prescribed or controlled burning as a technique sometimes used in forest management, farming, or prairie restoration. Fire is a natural part of both forest and grassland ecology and controlled fire can be a tool for foresters. Controlled burning stimulates the germination of some desirable forest trees, thus renewing the forest. Some seeds, such as sequoia, remain dormant until fire breaks down the seed coating.”  

These burnings produce growth and even awaken seeds that otherwise would be dormant until the fire is lit. 

This analogy has been so powerful for me, to see that when I go through hard times and challenges, and I think everything around me is burning down, I am not stuck or hopeless – I am empowered to pick myself up out of those ashes, dust myself off and through those ashes begin to learn, grow and move forward. I am awakened to a new day and new growth in my life.

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Our pain and challenges are not wasted times.

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Rise above it all

In the past, I’ve felt like I lost years of my life going through hard things. Feeling like you lost so many years can be very depressing. Had I not gone through all of those years, however, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I wouldn’t be able to help those that I help. I wouldn’t be able to relate.

Let this motivate you to rise above it all and strengthen you to keep going!

This can be a hard mindset shift, especially if you’re going through something extremely challenging right now.

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You WILL get through this.

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While you’re waiting – take a lot of deep breaths in and out, write your thoughts and feelings down in a daily journal, do not isolate yourself, surround yourself with loving friends and family and don’t let go of your hope that this too will pass. 

Do you need someone to help you rise above the ashes?

Are you going through a situation that seems impossible? Do you know you want to change but you don’t know where to begin? Or you’ve tried doing things on your own and you’re not getting anywhere?

First of all, know today, that there is plenty of beauty to be found in the ashes. And if you need someone to listen, I have been there and I am here.

If you would like someone to walk with you through the challenges you’re facing and feel a life coach would be a good idea. I would love to talk to you more about how we can work together and help you rise above. Find out more here!