7 Transformational Principles for Dealing with Life Challenges

Life is full of challenges

The Aphorism “being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated in life is optional” by Roger Crawford, presents us with the knowledge that we have control over how we are affected by our life challenges.

With this knowledge, we can alter the following:

• Perceptions
• Belief systems
• Thoughts
• Emotions
• Behaviors
• Outcomes

By doing so, it will align us with the greater purpose housed in the life challenge. All of life’s challenges can be transformed into purpose once you view the challenges for what they really are. These are essential features in your life that have the capability to connect you with your divine self. 

Now that you are aware that challenges in life does not equate defeat, utilize these seven transformational principles to transform your life’s pain into your life’s purpose!

7 Transformational Principles

1. Change your negative perception. Often times when we don’t have a healthy understanding of our life challenges, we can get stuck in a redundant cycle of pain, frustration, and hopelessness.
   Developing a healthy perception about your life challenge helps you to focus on possibility, opportunity, and resources. Perception is your senses’ narratives that you incorporate to assist you with defining your personal understanding of reality and your circumstances.
   When your perception about yourself and life is laced with habitual negativity, you will fail to see the possibilities and opportunities that are available to you. The first step to transforming pain into purpose is you must have an optimistic perception. Having an optimistic perception towards a life challenge allows you to see the strategies, possibilities, resources, and purpose in the challenge, as well as, help you develop a strong faith that you will conquer the challenge.
2. Affirmations/Self-Talk. Affirmations are positive statements that describe specific goals, habits or situations that you want to manifest in your life. Affirmations send a very clear message to your subconscious of your intention for the positive statement to be true.
   Make it your soul’s mission to find or create your own affirmations that stimulate your perception of your true identity and your life’s calling. Reciting positive affirmations daily conditions your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to perform to the cadence of the words spoken.
3. Discovering the lesson. Every challenge in life comes with a lesson. Whether the challenge is there to transform you to love more, live life more, give more or to develop an attitude of gratitude, there is a lesson in it for you.
   When we learn from our life challenges we began the process of transforming our pain into our purpose. However, unlike school, life gives you the test first and then you have to discover the lesson.
4. Connect with your inner self (Spirituality). A key element in transitioning from pain to purpose is connecting with the spiritual side of yourself. It is important to acknowledge that you are connected to a higher power.
   Your inner self is the driving force behind perseverance. When you connect with your inner self you will be given the necessary tools you need to conquer any challenge. There are several techniques to connect with your spirituality. Some people use meditation or prayer, others connect through reading books, it doesn’t matter what technique you use to connect with your inner self. What is important is that you do connect.
5. Search for knowledge. Reach out for help. You don’t have to do it alone. Learn what strategies others used to overcome similar or the same challenge that you are facing and then devise a plan that you can use to help you navigate through your challenge.
6. Live with purpose. Don’t just exist, but began living your life with purpose. We all have a signature life’s work that the world needs. Start engaging in activities that allow you to express your passion or curiosity about your purpose in life.
   If you have yet to discover your purpose in life, begin to pay attention to those selfless acts you perform which bring you gratification with no expectation of external rewards.
   Recognize the internal priceless energy/spirit that produces your skills, talents, gifts, personality and personal uniqueness which exhibits themselves in the world around you. You are equipped with everything you need to accomplish what you designed to do.
7. Share your life’s story. Telling your story about how you conquered your life challenge can be therapeutic for someone and each time you tell your story it empowers you!

These 7 principles are a guide to assist you with your shift from pain to purpose. If you implement these principles when you are experiencing a life challenge you will notice a transformation within yourself doing the life challenge. Remember, “Life is 10% of what happens to us and 90% of how we react to it.” ~Charles R. Swindoll

Transform Your Life!

Crisis Coach Michelle Brown CLC, CNLPP