Dealing with Challenges
September 8th, 2008 Posted in General, Life, NewsletterForget Baseball. Lately, the new national pastime has become hurricane watching and with winds gusting faster than a Roger Clemens’ fastball it’s no wonder that they strike fear into the heart of so many people. To make matters worse it seems like every time you turn on the television a hurricane expert is showing the projected path of the storm and it’s headed right for your house. Whether it’s for safety reasons or ratings I can understand why the media would keep us on red alert and I can also understand why it would cause so much stress and fear.
Unfortunately, we are utterly and completely powerless in the face of a 120 mph hurricane that is headed straight for our house, our family, our business, our source of income and our life. As human beings who strive for control we come face to face with the ultimate reality—there is so much in life that is beyond our control.
You see, hurricanes don’t just come in the form of weather patterns, wind and rain. Every day we face hurricanes at work and in life.
A sudden illness. A sick child. A car accident. Divorce. Job loss. Company reorganization. Financial crisis. The death of a loved one. Loss of business, etc.
The winds of life blow. The conditions get worse. Hurricanes come at us from all directions.
So what do we do? Do we give up? Do we live in fear? Do we hide under the covers or do we face the storm?
The answer and my inspiration for writing this comes from a boy named Joshua. As a hurricane was approaching the gulf coast Joshua’s mom was in his room telling him that that she and his dad were getting a divorce. With tears streaming down his face he said, “You know Mom, this is really hard but I’m going to try to be strong and positive and trust it will all work out.”
As she told me this story over the phone, my heart just melted. This boy, whose pain was unbearable, was choosing to stay positive as his world was being torn apart. While his levies of strength were breaking and the pain was flooding in, he was mustering up the courage and faith to reinforce his walls and stay strong in the face of adversity. He didn’t act in denial. He accepted the situation. And he knew he had to deal with it; with courage, with strength, with faith and with positive energy.
I’ve come to realize that, like Joshua, every one of us will come face to face with hurricanes in our life. We will come to the realization that our situation is beyond our control. During these moments we are meant to realize that we can’t do it alone. In our powerlessness we are meant to discover the ultimate power. In our fear we are meant to find our faith. And in our need for control we are meant to find a peace that comes when we surrender. We are meant to stay positive and act like it depends on us and pray like it depends on God.
I don’t know why we have to face hurricanes but people like Joshua and my own heart show me the way to overcome them.
How do you overcome the hurricanes / challenges in your life and work? Share your thoughts here.
Stay Positive!
-Jon | www.JonGordon.com
25 Responses to “Dealing with Challenges”
By Joni Reynolds on Sep 8, 2008
We are going through one of life’s hurricanes. We believe in the power of God and we know that if we are faithful we will be victorious. We watch our associations and surround ourselves with people who continue to speak life into our lives. We believe you shall have what you say.
By Kathryn on Sep 8, 2008
I pray the “Serenity Prayer” all day long and it gives me enough strength to find control in my hurricane even when there is none.
By Christa Ryan on Sep 8, 2008
Not just in the wake of “hurricanes” and disaster but every day, I look to God to guide me. I know that with Him I am everything and I can achieve my wildest dreams. My mother always told me that God will never lead us to anything that He will not see us through. Faith is what will see us through every adversity and allow us to come out the other side a better person for having gone through it. May God bless you all.
Christa Ryan, Halifax, NS Canada
By Bill on Sep 8, 2008
One reason I subscribed to this newsletter is because of the number of hurricanes in my life. Hurricanes, which include the premature death of my father, car accident death of my brother, servere birth defects of my son…and others, resulting in my complete loss of any spiritual belief in a soul or afterlife. I was a positive person, and want to get back there again. I am told to live one-day-at-a-time, but stress at knowing without a long term plan, that approach can bury you down the road. Life is tough, and much tougher for others than for me. I guess misery is relative. So, for right now, it’s one-day-at-a-time.
By Lee on Sep 8, 2008
Jon…
Today’s story about Hurricane’s and that precious little boy remind me of a wonderful song which reflects your teaching today. The lyrics to “Hold On” from “The Secret Garden”.
“Hold on…it’s this storm….not YOU….that’s bound to blow away.”
Storms will come. We have to remember to hold on to our faith and that the storm, while it may be horribly tragic WILL blow over and we will come out on the other side.
Thanks for all of your positive words and encouragment.
MAKE it a beautiful day!
Lee
Jacksonville, FL
By DAM on Sep 8, 2008
After winning an all expenses paid trip to New York my wife became concerned that an impending storm would damage our home while we were away. I pointed out our good fortune that we 1. had a home, 2. that we had friends to watch our home, 3. that we had insurance, and 4. that we would be away at someone elses expense if the storm hit.
By Michaela Miller on Sep 8, 2008
What perfect timing! My husband and I were overwhelmed and overcome by Tropical Storm Fay. In a matter of an hour the river rose and our entire house was flooded to our ankles, then shins, then knees! When we evacuated with photo albums, jewelry and nothing else - we began a path of detachment to “things”. We managed to salvage FOUR pieces of furniture, but we only have one pair of shoes each and it will be 3 months before we can move back into our home.
As a former TV reporter I have covered storms many times and thought I understood what the victims were going through… but I got to go home and sleep in my own bed at the end of the newscast. Having slept on an air mattress and worn the same clothes for days…. now we appreciate what is truly important! My husband and I are safe - and many of our friends have reached out to comfort us and make us laugh through the bouts of tears! Starting over is a fresh slate - inside and out. We are truly blessed.
By Michaela Miller on Sep 8, 2008
What perfect timing! My husband and I were overwhelmed and overcome by Tropical Storm Fay. In a matter of an hour the river rose and our entire house was flooded to our ankles, then shins, then knees! When we evacuated with photo albums, jewelry and nothing else - we began a path of detachment to “things”. We managed to salvage FOUR pieces of furniture, but we only have one pair of shoes each and it will be 3 months before we can move back into our home.
As a former TV reporter I have covered storms many times and thought I understood what the victims were going through… but I got to go home and sleep in my own bed at the end of the newscast. Having slept on an air mattress and worn the same clothes for days…. now we appreciate what is truly important! My husband and I are safe - and many of our friends have reached out to comfort us and make us laugh through the bouts of tears! Starting over is a fresh slate - inside and out. We are truly blessed.
By ann on Sep 8, 2008
Five minutes before opening Jon’s newsletter I got the news of the death of a friend, an hour before news that my devoted helper had to be rushed to hospital with high blood sugar she never had this before. During the last three weeks I attended funerals of two dear friends who also died suddenly. A minute ago my son called me from another island where he works infrming me of a near murder in the taxi in which he was travelling to work. I thought I just had enough of the bad news. No more please. However I told my son I am so thankful that the murder was averted and that he though somewhat traumatised was fine. I thank God for his mercies, and ask Him to give me strength to cope with the negatives. Looking at the positives is really the best way to cope. I reflect on the lengthy and cheerful conversations which I had with all the friends who recently passed on. The memories I cherished. They told me goodbye so lovingly even though I was did not know those conversations were the final ones we will have.
By Stacie on Sep 8, 2008
I face “hurricanes” by not reacting when I want to react. I talk out the situation with my sponsor (I’m in a 12 step program) and/or with a psychologist I see periodically. I think out the options; follow their direction and pray. Then, I try to not think about the problem; focus on whatever is in front of me; and wait for the results. Sometimes the answers come quickly and sometimes they take a long time. No matter what the time length; if I’m patient and wait for the results to appear (and they ALWAYS appear) I’m a better person as a result. I’m stronger, more confident, more patient, more humble, more gracious, more understanding, and so on.
By John on Sep 8, 2008
I am retired military (Army) and civilian. I was very prosperous in all my careers. I had a stroke in 0ct 02 and May 03. I have over come this set back and I am doing well. Although, I still have medical issue with high cholestrol and triglicerides and emphasema. I am working as gate security with the oil/gas leases in SW Texas. This gives me a great deal of satisfaction because I feel like I am working and helping others. In reality I really do not work. I just open and close the gate. But it helps me. Saturday, Sept 7, 2008, I lost my best friend and companion. I adopted Sugar from the VA SPCA on July 1, 2007. At 10 months old and not adopted, she needed a good home. It was instant affection. She was smart, funny, and lovable. she was bitten by a rattle snake and died with an hour. I am heart sick. All I can think of is Sugar. I am a very positive person, believing my glass to half full rather than half empty. This is a very sad time and hope to snap of it. Any suggestions.
By Thomas R. Fennell on Sep 8, 2008
Hurricanes/challanges can be used
Energy should not be misdirected attempting to “overcome” them.
By Joshua Marble on Sep 8, 2008
Thank you so much for this inspiring story. The end of your article hit on the most important aspect. I truly believe that in our darkest moment we will always find the strength to move on. Thank you for the positive lift to my day.
By Anne in Fernandina on Sep 8, 2008
Wow! I feel so thankful to have a relatively calm spell in my life right now. I, too, am in the path of some of the hurricanes, but realize how lucky I am to have the means and the hurricane forecasters to help me out of harm’s way should the need arise. My back was sore from picking up after Fay, but it’s stronger every day since. Those of you who are suffering so keely, please take it easy on yourselves, and I’m thinking of you.
By Nick on Sep 8, 2008
I have been working on two new businesses for three years now and both are taking way longer to come to fruition than had been thought possible. We are getting by for now, but rather than too much happening hurricane style, it can be just as bad when nothing is happening. I know there are a lot of people in the world hoping their situation will change soon and acting towards that goal, but knowing tomorrow will still start the same way as today and watching their situation slowly slipping down. It would be so easy to just accept the current situation as permanent rather than working like crazy for something that may or may not happen.
How do I stay positive? I feel that how we respond to our situation is a choice and that staying positive simply beats the alternative! Also, I know that giving up will definitely not get me where I want to go, and remind myself that I really enjoy the process of what I’m doing (albeit without the waiting). I also know that getting something you didn’t need to work much for is not nearly as satisfying as when you’ve dedicated yourself to it for years before finally seeing it pay off.
This is a little different than other posts, and Jon’s focus, but hope it helps someone out there.
By Mika on Sep 8, 2008
Most hurricanes are foretold in advance, which gives us time to prepare. I treat life hurricanes the same way. We, humans, see the signs of a hurricane coming, but often times choose to either be in denial or not to react at all, thinking the problem will go away. I personally use the warning signs as a buffer to prepare for the worse. Once I do that the impact of the storm is not as great. I can then take what strength I have left to move on with my new life.
By Melanie on Sep 8, 2008
I realize that there are somethings outside our control. I must charge forward and do what I need to do to over come this hurricane. I can not dwell on something I can not control! Stay positive and something positive will come out of it!
By June on Sep 8, 2008
My experience is that the way I think about the “huricane” is as big a challenge as the event itself. The disaster takes on greater proportions if we focus on it and are afraid and panicked. If I have been learning to cope with small troubles with faith and hope, then I use the same principles when in the middle of a big storm. It’s a lot to do with perspective, how I look at things.
By June on Sep 8, 2008
To John (retired military).
With your great capacity for love & your established postive attitude you will get through this. Just know that there are millions of other people who are going through these painful experiences. We do survive the pain
Could you look for someone who has a similar loss and hold them up.
I used to have a friend that had cancer and whenever she went for chemo, she took her Bible and looked around the waiting room and always found someone who was also waiting for treatment that she could sit with and share how God was helping her through it.
By John Wakefield on Sep 8, 2008
Jon, you are perfectly right about the concept of submisson. To me it’s not like a submisson to “the will of God” because I don’t believe that a loving God causes bad or evil things to happen, but it is submisson to the power of God to be my strengh to see me through the situation. I really don’t see how people get through life without a faith in God to be strong for them when mortal strengh fails.
By Peggy on Sep 9, 2008
You are so correct, we have such little control over the events that happen to us in life. But what we do have control over is how we react to them. We can approach it from a negative point or take the event and work through it with the help of God. When we walk through “hurricanes” with a positive attitude and with God, somehow they just don’t seem so severe.
By Norma Kunstenaar on Sep 10, 2008
The only way to face hurricaine in my life is by being attached to my faith…faith is synonimous of hope, life, energy, vision, caring, love and so on so forth. This is the only tool/way to solve all problems in life….I do not care what faith is your faith what it matters is that you have to develop faith within you, sourrounding you…there are so many episodes in my life that nobody can control it…but faith can control it. This is my answer…that is why I stick to my faith like paper and glue, like a fish in the water.
By bev on Oct 16, 2008
Divorce sucks I hope someone help Joshua instead of telling him that he was JUST great for being posituve.
By bev on Oct 16, 2008
I tried but my answer was not accepted
By JG on Apr 20, 2009
Jon,
Thank you for your continued positive and spirtual messages. I appreciate that you include God and encourage your audience to have faith. Thank you to all of the blog posts above. Six months later since the original article, I am now reading this and feeling I’m not in alone with my struggles (hurricanes) of life. Unemployement has struck my family and I am trying to hold on to everything I have including my home, my faith, my belief in myself, my self confidence that I will get back what I lost and will be thriving with prosperity and abundance very soon. God is my Rock and is teaching me to be humble and patient. My wife and kids are with me and lift me up everyday with their smiling faces. I am blessed for all the joys I have in my life and know that God soon will answers my prayers to find my next best career, getting me back to work and provide for my family financially.
I’m staying positive today while keeping the faith that everything will work out just fine!
JG