My wife calls me ChatJG because whenever she asks me for the right words for one of her social media posts, I can spit out exactly what she needs like the AI tool ChatGPT.
I realized the other day that I can do this because I wrestled with words for years and spent thousands of hours in the past writing books, newsletters and social media posts that made me a better writer. Sometimes it took me hours to decide what I wanted to say the way I wanted to say it.
My struggle with words led to my strength as a writer.
During the pandemic my daughter earned a living delivering food via Postmates. She had to provide for herself and the struggle made her stronger. I also see the same thing happening to her as a speaker. She’s on the road dealing with all the same challenges I’ve had over the years and I can see it building her resilience and character.
My son just graduated college and is working in his first sales job selling door to door. I’m watching him grind and having both success and failures. There are days he’s struggling and I’m smiling because I know in the long run the struggle will lead to strength and skills for his life and career in the future.
If we are honest with ourselves, we want things to be easy. But we must remember that easy won’t make us stronger. You have to struggle if you want strength.
Anything worthwhile takes time and struggle to create. That’s why meals that are made, not microwaved, are much better.
Just as lifting weights makes your muscles grow and getting sick builds your immune system, adversity, challenges and struggles are woven into the fabric of our existence and are part of our growth and refining process.
So, the next time you are struggling, don’t run from it. Don’t wish it was easier. Instead choose to embrace it knowing it will make you stronger.
I told my wife the other day that instead of asking me (ChatJG) for input when she’s stuck writing something she should wrestle with the words on her own in order to become a better writer. She agreed and decided she was going to do that from now on.
Struggling will make her stronger and it will do the same for you.
Have a great week!
-Jon
