Forge Through It

Sometimes life gets so tough and you wonder how you can get through this season...but you can.

I originally was going to title this article, Fight Through It, but I like the word forge better for this.

Its more fitting as this is a creative process, not one based in conflict, although it shares some similarities.

It will make sense by the end of the article why I chose to title it the second way.

Some definitions of forge as a verb…

Forge:

• To advance gradually but steadily

• To advance with an abrupt increase of speed.

• To give form or shape to, especially by means of careful effort.

• To form (metal, for example) by heating in a forge and beating or hammering into shape.

( Source - https://www.wordnik.com/words/forge )

Right now…I've never felt busier in my life.

In fact, I'm doing this newsletter when I should really be sleeping.

But I don’t want to give up after two years of sustained effort.

I’m in the middle of working two jobs, plus being on call, plus cleaning the office at my work twice a month.

Oh…and my beater car, which I am grateful for keeping me out of more debt, just had engine trouble over the weekend which I had to handle on top of working both Saturday and Sunday haha.

It's nuts…but thanks to my girlfriend, I can actually do it. She’s taking care of a lot of stuff behind the scenes so I can work this much and move us forward.

God bless her.

I tell myself…this is only temporary.

The heavy caffeine use.

The low sleep plus more work.

Less time to relax, get outdoors, hit the gym…etc.

Less time to work on this newsletter and do so many other things.

But we all go through difficult seasons like this when we are tested beyond what we thought we could ever handle.

When someone has a child or a dog and their life gets a WHOLE LOT busier all of a sudden. When you care, you find a way.

No matter how hard or what sacrifices you have to make.

Because its bigger than you and its a goal, a reason that gives you energy even when you shouldn't have any.

For me, this is a temporary commitment which will transition to a 2nd job that is less hours and more manageable but for now i’ve tacked on like 20 - 25 additional working hours per week.

At least it’s active commercial cleaning work so I'm still getting exercise in. And a lot of it.

You may doubt yourself.

Pity yourself.

Say, why me?

What was I thinking?

Am I crazy?

Is this even possible?

And then you quiet all that self doubt, fear and worry with a reason that goes beyond all that negativity.

Your self generated why.

So dont give up.

Have compassion and kindness for yourself and marry that with commitment and inner strength.

Stay focused and stay clear on your reason for doing this and getting through tough times.

And when you doubt yourself and do the self pity crap, chant that reason in your head until you believe again.

Make it your mantra you know by heart.

Then grow as a person and become a more resilient, dedicated and compassionate human being.

A sword is born through hammering and fire in the forge.

So let these challenges be your forge that strengthens and defines who you really are.

Just like the picture above you are turning crude metal into hardened, beautiful and powerful steel.

That metaphor is perfect for hard and challenging times.

They shape you in the same way fire and hammering form a sword.

So let your challenges be your triumphs.

Let the fire burn away your impurities and weaknesses.

Let it build you into a more resilient version of yourself.

Don't let it break it, let it forge you.