Useful Struggles
After passing through a struggle, you may need to refer to it for someone else in the future.
Someone you know might be going through it. A a road you have already travelled. You know exactly how to get around it. You know the patterns. You know what works.
This experience makes you someone they can rely on for guidance.
So in other words, your struggles are useful.
If you are going through something right now... don't think of it as the end. But rather a potential turning point in your bigger picture and for others.
Use what you've learned before, to overcome it. And get what you want. I believe we all have an ability to do this.
But, be open to letting go of old ideas.
Some ideas, we fall out of love with.
Some we no longer desire.
But some are essential to grow.
Welcoming all experiences allows this dance. And will make you wiser. And a more rounded individual.
I remember having difficult days during Dumpling Nation with Rebecca. It would be problem after problem: website bugs, our merchant account froze, a last minute order that would double our week's production meaning more time cooking in a tighter deadline...
Just writing that out brought me back.
Those situations each had their lesson which made us improve and solidify our processes. It made us realize what we actually wanted and NOT want.
It might be my bias towards being an engineer with a problem-solving mind, but I saw those as opportunities.
And each one brought us closer to a stronger business.
Remember those struggles as they might have more meaning looking back than you realize.