Pushing Through The Tough Times And Difficult Obstacles

Pushing through the difficult times, and the tough periods is something we all have to do. Whether it be personal, business, mental, or emotional, there are lots of variables, unknowns, and circumstances we all must handle and deal with.

One of the hardest things to do is to push through the tough times and come out on the other side. Often times, it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, especially when you’re inside of it, and in the thick of things. But the only way to get to there is by pushing through and persevering. It’s tough for everyone, and in lots of different situations unique to themselves and their lives.

The hard times in life, and the tough situations prove to be difficult tests. But on the other side, is where the reward dwells, where the progress is to be had, and where the growth takes place. Getting there is the hard part, and working through the difficulties requires lots of strength, grit, determination, and perseverance.

Persistence

Working through the tough times requires an increased level of motivation and determination. When the really difficult battles arise, it often means continuing to work and move forward even when you don’t want to, or even when you’re struggling.

Being persistent, forces you to push through, and continue moving forward on your journey, whether you want to or not. An important concept within persistence, lies in one of its closely tied relatives, consistency.

Consistency is one the main elements within being persistent. Continuing to show up even though you don’t really want to. Staying consistent with your habits, your tasks, and your work is where your drive is going to be challenged. You’ll see for yourself whether you truly want the reward and the end result, or if you just had a temporary desire for it.

Along the way of your journey, for whatever it may be, you’ll reveal to yourself how badly you want whatever it is you’re striving for, the type of motivation you truly have, and if you’re determined enough to get to the other side.

Every task or test is a challenge to not only your commitment, your persistency, and your motivation, but also to your desire. If the desire is truly there, or if it was a temporary sensation, that’s already fled. Continuing to work and being persistent is a major part of breaking through, and getting to the other side.

The Belief In Your Vision

An important element of pushing through and beating the tough times or the challenges that lie ahead, is your belief, and your conviction to your vision. A lot of the goals we set out for ourselves, and the reasons behind our motivation is the future we’re able to envision for ourselves. People see the type of lifestyle they want to live, or the type of body they want to have, or the type of financial situation they want to be in, but the real question lies in do they truly believe in it, and what are they willing to do to make their vision or dream into a reality.

The belief is often one of the things we use to motivate ourselves in the difficult times, thinking about the top of the mountain during the climb. During the climb, is when you see whether you truly believe in your vision, or if you think you’re able to make it happen. Along the way, the bumps in the road, the obstacles ahead, and the unknowns that arise are going to show whether you truly believe in the vision and believe in yourself to make it happen.

The Little Voice Inside Your Head

One of the toughest, if not the toughest obstacle everyone has, is the little voice inside of your head that holds you back from achieving your full potential, or the one that gives you doubts about going forward. It’s truly one of the most difficult things to navigate, as it requires you to say no, or to say I disagree with you. It’s almost counterintuitive on a certain level, telling yourself no, or disagreeing with apart of yourself.

For me, it’s one of my most difficult battles, and something I struggle with on a daily basis. Figuring out ways to keep going, to keep fighting, and to choose not to listen to the little voice in our head telling us to stop, or trying to hold us back, or giving us doubts. I struggle with it the same way everyone else does. The ways I’ve been able to find some success with battling it, has been to venture into the unknown. To not be afraid, and when the negative doubts come along, saying no to them, and refusing to subside to their demands or their negativity.

My belief is that over time, the more I continue to say no, the more I see where the truth really lies, and understand the true meaning and implications behind each decision, I’ll continue to get better at managing that little voice, and learning when to listen to it, and when to silence it out.

The Further You Go, The More You Do, The Tougher You Get

A lot of what we’re talking about comes down to toughness, determination, and motivation. Over time, the more you do these things, the more you develop these traits, and the more you experience, the better and stronger you’re going to get.

I like to think of this in the same way I think of a muscle. The more reps I do, the more consistent I am, the stronger I am going to get. So, the more I’m able to persevere, work through the tough times, and get the reward, the stronger I am going to be. The more I’m training myself and my body to continue working through and getting to the other side.

That strength, determination, and perseverance you’re learning and building up, will be with you in the future. It’ll be with you wherever you go, in whatever you’re trying to accomplish, and whatever task that may stand in your way.

The skills you learn, the traits you develop, and the experience you get strengthen your ability and become part of you, part of your work ethic, and part of your abilities. You’re able to come out much stronger than you were before, or when you were coming in.

Getting Comfortable with Uncertainty and The Unknown

Many of the difficult circumstances or tasks we encounter, are usually because they are unknown to us, and we find ourselves in unfamiliar territory. It’s tough, I won’t lie. Finding the courage, the strength, and the willingness to move forward, in those times where you don’t know much, are unsure of what lies ahead, and are having mixed feelings is difficult. To go into the unknown, and to see whatever may happen is rough.

But fortunately, things tend to work themselves out. You tend to learn more about yourself, learn more about a topic or area, or come out with more experience and confidence. Many times, the scariest part, and the most difficult part is the time leading up to it. The thoughts you have, the things you hear, and the mental images you have inside your head. Everyone does it, it’s totally normal.

But the ones who are able to be comfortable with the unknown, with everything going on, and understand certain things are out of their hands, but are still willing to go forward, to explore, and to find out, are often the ones who are rewarded. They’re the ones who gain the knowledge or experience that’s so valuable and sought after.

It’s important to be smart, and it’s important to make the right decisions, and have the right attitude, but it’s also important to take risks, and venture into the unknown to see what lies ahead.

The more you explore, and venture into the unknown or the unfamiliar, the more knowledge you gain, the more experience you get, and the more confidence you start to build up. The more experience you tend to have, and the more you do it, the more comfortable you become. There are lots of amazing and great things once you venture into the unknown, and we hope you’re able to find many of them along the way.

The Other Side

The other side will depend on what your objective is, what you’re trying to achieve, the end results you’re looking for, and what the top of the mountain is to you. Depending on what you’re looking for, the other side is often the end of the tunnel. The place where your hard work pays off, and the results begin to show.

Once you’re there, you’re welcomed with a feeling of accomplishment, a feeling of achievement, and satisfaction that you were able to sacrifice, and get to the place you set out to go. The one thing we do know, is that it’s going to take work, sacrifice, time, and energy to get there. That sweet smell or feeling that comes with completing a task is often part of the reward at the end of the road.

The journey to get there, is often where you learn a lot, navigate ups and downs, and figure out ways to keep moving forward. It’s during the climb, that you gain the valuable experience and expertise that comes from completing the task. The knowledge you’re able to gain will help you perform better the next time, become more skilled, and provide you with the intelligence to connect the dots to better understand the task and it’s complications.

Conclusion

Facing hardships and navigating difficult circumstances is something we all must do. Everyone’s battles, and difficulties may be different, but we’ll all have to persevere to some level. Whether your battle is learning how to become a financial analyst, developing the skills to be an artist, or better managing the relationships you have, there are lots of ups and downs along the way.

Perseverance is one the things that can help you along the way. Finding ways to keep going, to keep moving forward, and maintaining the type of consistency you need is a great way to push through your hardships. It’s important during the tough or difficult times, to remember the vision you had for yourself when you started and stick to the belief in your ability to make it happen. The tasks or issues that arise, will often show you your level of conviction and belief in that future you once had.

The little voice inside your head, that we all have, is one of the additional battles you’ll have to fight. Whether it’s giving you doubts, second thoughts, or creating a mental image that will act as a roadblock, it’s important for you to keep perspective, remember what is true, and decide objectively on the situation. Many of us, including me, tend to get carried away with that voice, and let it influence us. Deciding when to say no, to reject its negativity, and not listen to the doubts it gives us, is something that can-do wonders in the right context.

The unknown is a place of uncertainty and doubt, where we haven’t been before. It’s a place where we feel uncomfortable, a place where we aren’t sure, and a place that requires courage and strength to continue moving forward. The other side of the unknown, or the obstacle that’s ahead of us, is often where the growth lies, the reward dwells, and the confidence develops. In order to get there, we have to find ways to persevere, to work through, and continue moving forward through the difficulties that lie ahead.

Over time, as you continue to fight, continue to push through, and continue to work past whatever may be in front of you, along the way you’re able to build your skills, abilities, and traits that will be a help to you in the future. Those investments you make now, whether it may be sacrifices, to continue working even though you don’t want to, or showing up when you stay home, will contribute to the person you become, and the type of principles you develop. The battles you fight, the wars you win, and the territories you conquer have the ability to provide benefits for many years to come.

Howie Bick is the founder of The Analyst Handbook. The Analyst Handbook is a collection of 16 guides created to help current and aspiring Analysts advance their careers. Prior to founding The Analyst Handbook, Howie was a financial analyst.