Why We Struggle
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Have you ever looked at your life and wondered:
"Why does everything feel so hard?"
Perhaps you've worked tirelessly toward a goal only to find yourself exhausted and unfulfilled. Perhaps you've stayed in relationships that drained your spirit. Perhaps you've followed the path that others said would make you successful, only to discover that success without joy feels strangely empty.
If so, you are not alone. Most people are not struggling because they are lazy, incapable, or unworthy. They are struggling because they have lost touch with who they truly are.
In my experience, two of the biggest reasons people struggle in life are:
They are not living in alignment with their divine purpose.
They are operating from limiting beliefs that no longer serve them.
When we understand these two forces, we begin to understand why life sometimes feels like an uphill battle.
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Nature Does Not Resist Its Purpose
A baby bird does not attend a seminar to learn that it was born to fly. A seed naturally grows into the tree it was designed to become. A sea turtle does not question whether it should swim, climb trees, or fly through the sky.
Nature follows its design. It moves with life rather than against it.
As I often reflect: "Nature beats to the rhythm of the Universe. It does not resist, it naturally flows."
Yet human beings are different. We often spend years trying to become someone we were never meant to be. From childhood, many of us are given labels, expectations, and definitions of success that may have little to do with who we truly are. Parents, teachers, culture, and society often tell us what we should value, what career we should pursue, how we should behave, and who we should become.
Some of this guidance helps us. Some of it slowly disconnects us from our authentic selves.
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The Cost of Living Someone Else's Dream
Perhaps you have known someone whose parents wanted them to become a doctor or a lawyer. They worked hard. They studied relentlessly. They sacrificed years of their lives. And yet everything felt difficult.
The passion wasn't there. The joy wasn't there. The energy wasn't there. Meanwhile, another student seemed to excel effortlessly. The difference was not intelligence. The difference was alignment. One person was pursuing a path chosen by others. The other was pursuing a path that resonated with their soul.
There is a profound difference between working hard for something you love and struggling to force yourself down a path that was never yours to begin with.
Remembering Who You Truly Are
One of the most important journeys we will ever take is the journey back to ourselves. Not becoming someone new by other people’s standards, but remembering who we truly are according to the calling our souls.
I believe each person arrives in this world carrying unique gifts, talents, passions, and lessons that point toward their purpose. When we discover those gifts and honor them, life begins to flow differently. Doors open. Opportunities appear. The right people enter our lives at the right time to guide us with their expertise.
What once felt impossible begins to feel natural. When we love what we do, it no longer feels like work. When our actions align with our purpose, effort transforms into inspiration.
Photo by Melissa Garrett
My Own Journey
Years ago, I spent considerable time helping develop a consumer electronics product that made lights dance beautifully to music. The concept and working prototypes generated excitement. Yet despite our efforts, we continually encountered obstacles, especially financial ones (it takes an enormous amount of capital to develop an electronics product and bring it to market). Unfortunately these barriers prevented the project from moving forward.
Eventually I reached a point where I asked God a simple question: "How can I best use my talent and resources to help as many people as possible and make a living?"
The answer that came to me was unexpected. I was prompted by the Universe to write a book about love and relationships. At the time, writing an entire book seemed overwhelming. I had no idea how the path would unfold. Yet once I started, something remarkable happened.
The struggle disappeared.
Ideas flowed.
Chapters emerged.
The process felt guided.
What had once seemed daunting became one of the most meaningful journeys of my life. That experience taught me something important: When we align with our purpose, life often begins to cooperate with us rather than resist us.
Photo by Paul Garreett
Transformation Begins with Self-Inquiry
If you want to discover who you truly are, you must be willing to spend quiet time with yourself. In today's world, distractions are everywhere. But self-discovery requires stillness. It requires reflection. It requires asking deeper questions.
Questions such as:
Who am I?
What truly makes me happy?
What are my natural gifts and talents?
What am I passionate about?
What did my soul come here to experience and learn?
What is my purpose?
If I knew I could not fail, what would I do with my life?
What beliefs or fears are preventing me from becoming who I am meant to be?
Many years ago, a yoga friend said to me: "All of the answers you seek are inside you."
At first, I did not understand what she meant. Today, after years of self-reflection, meditation, healing, and spiritual growth, I understand those words differently.
The wisdom we seek often emerges when we become quiet enough to hear it.
The Hidden Power of Limiting Beliefs
The second major reason people struggle is because of the stories they believe. Many of these stories were formed long before we were old enough to question them.
Perhaps you grew up hearing:
"We can't afford that."
"Money doesn't grow on trees."
"Life is hard."
"Relationships always end badly."
"You're not good enough."
Over time, these messages become subconscious programs that shape our reality. The challenge is that most people never examine these beliefs. They simply assume they are true. But awareness changes everything.
Whenever a limiting belief appears, ask yourself:
Is this belief actually true?
Where did this belief come from?
Is this my belief or someone else's?
What would the opposite belief look like?
Robert Kiyosaki offered a powerful example of the power of questions in his book, Rich Dad Poor Dad: He suggests that instead of saying, "I can't afford it," ask, "How can I afford it?"
One question closes the door. The other opens it. The same principle applies to every area of life.
Photo by Paul Garrett
From Limitation to Possibility
This is especially true in relationships. Many people settle for less than they deserve because they unconsciously believe they are not worthy of more. They tell themselves:
"Relationships are hard."
"All the good partners are taken."
"Nobody will ever truly love me."
When unchallenged these beliefs become self-fulfilling prophecies. But when we become aware of them, we can change them. My mentor Danny Morel calls this process "flipping the tortilla."
One side contains the limiting belief.
The other side contains a new possibility.
Flip it over.
Explore the other side.
Ask yourself:
"What if love could be easy?"
"What if I am worthy?"
"What if the life I dream about is actually possible?"
Possibility thinking shifts us from scarcity to abundance. From fear to faith. From struggle to creation.
A Final Thought
Life is too precious to spend becoming someone you were never meant to be. The world does not need another imitation. It needs the real you. The artist who was told to become an accountant. The healer who was told to ignore their intuition. The dreamer who was taught to play it safe. The soul who has spent years seeking permission to be themselves.
You do not need permission. You only need courage. The courage to question old stories. The courage to release limiting beliefs. The courage to honor your gifts. The courage to trust your heart.
As Carl Jung wisely said: "The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are."
When you stop living according to the expectations of others and begin honoring the truth of your soul, something extraordinary happens. The struggle begins to fade. Your confidence and wisdom grow. Life really starts to flow. And the person you were always meant to become finally has room to emerge.
Your life matters. Your purpose matters. And so do you.
Thanks so much for reading and supporting this blog! Feel free to share your questions about overcoming life’s struggles in the comment section below, and I invite you to sign up for my newsletter.
Wishing you a blessed week,
Paul Garrett & Total Soulful Journey
PS - Next week I will dive deeper into the power of courage. Courage is an important element in the hero’s journey. It is also the essential key for unlocking the gate between the 3rd and 4th dimensions where our struggles lose their power over us and we ascend into the realm of greater possibilities for our lives.
