Grow Through Life’s Hardships

We encounter countless pains as we live our lives. Just like being caught in the rain we didn’t want, the difficult moments that come at every turn in life cannot be avoided. There are many times when I resent why these things only happen to me, and I just want to collapse on the spot. But when I look back calmly, I realize that what truly helped me grow was not the sweet moments of joy, but the bitterly painful times. Pain asks us questions. When everything is going well, I don’t deeply reflect on who I am. I simply live like drifting along with the flowing water. However, when I stumble over a big obstacle and fall, only then do I look down at my own feet. It is only then that I truly see what I am afraid of, what real strength remains in my heart, and what kind of life I truly desire. Enduring difficult times is never easy. However, while standing firm against those harsh winds with my whole body, the roots of my heart grow deeper into the ground. Even if I am crying on the outside, on the inside, a solid stake is being driven deeper into my soul. Through this process, I come face to face with the inner strength I never knew I had. In the end, the pain life gives us is not a curse meant to break us. Rather, it is more like a painful guide that leads us to understand our inner self more deeply and warmly. If you are walking a thorny path right now and it hurts and feels difficult, that is a sign that you are growing into a deeper and broader person. Those who have gone through suffering come to know themselves far better than before, and as a result, they can love themselves more deeply.