Life Isn’t Against You—It’s Preparing You for Something Greater

Life Happens for You, Not to You

It’s easy to feel like life is against you. Things go wrong. Plans fall apart. People let you down. It can seem unfair, like the world is working against you. But what if that’s not true?

Every setback is a lesson. Every failure is a chance to grow. Every closed door pushes you toward a better one. You may not see it now, but challenges shape you into who you need to be. Think about the hardest times in your life. At the moment, they felt impossible. But looking back, you can see how they made you stronger. Maybe they forced you to change direction. Maybe they helped you realize what really matters. Maybe they showed you how strong you really are. Life isn’t out to get you. It’s guiding you. The struggles you face aren’t punishments. They’re opportunities.

You have a choice: you can refuse to take responsibility for your life and gain nothing out of your oftentimes negative experiences, or you can learn and move forward. You can make the best of your situations, or you can play the victim and get nothing out of your oftentimes negative experiences. Victor Frankl, who faced the horrors of Nazi concentration camps, proved this point. He was faced with horrendous human evil, but he went through the experience believing that we all have the ability to find meaning in life and the freedom to choose our attitude in interpreting life circumstances. This freedom doesn’t change the unbelievably difficult situation you are in, but you can change what you get out of it.

The next time something goes wrong, ask yourself: What can I learn from this? How can this make me better? Shifting your mindset from victim to student changes everything. Instead of feeling defeated, you start feeling empowered. You can’t control everything, but you can control how you see it. Choose to believe that life is happening for you. Choose to grow from every challenge. Over time, you’ll see that even the worst moments had a purpose. Life isn’t against you. It’s preparing you for something greater.

If you’re wondering how to start shifting your mindset, here are a few steps that will have a huge impact on your life:

• Approach of Gratitude – Even in difficult seasons, look for something to be thankful for. It might feel small, but gratitude rewires your brain to see opportunities instead of obstacles. Plus, it’ll make you happier.
• Take responsibility – Instead of seeing yourself as a victim of circumstances, recognize your role as an active participant in your journey. Take responsibility for events and conditions that you may have no control over because you can at least change your attitude in interpreting them.

This will all seems very counter intuitive, but it has changed my life for the better. Try it out. You may be surprised by the results.