5 Ways to Define Struggle - How to define what is considered a Struggle?

Introduction: 

Anyone that tells you that they have nothing that they struggle with is lying to you. We all struggle with one thing or another. The only thing is, that we each have different ways of how we cope with different types of struggles. In this article, we will explore the different types of struggles that are most commonly encountered by the majority of us.  

What is a struggle? 

Before we go exploring the different kinds of struggle, please allow me to give you some context on what this discussion is unpacking. We are not dealing with severe levels of dysfunction such as trauma or very serious strenuous circumstances - those types of struggles require professional help which we highly recommend and encourage to seek if need be.

In this context, we are referring to a level of discomfort or misalignment before it becomes a dysfunction that requires professional intervention. 

Hardship: 

A Hardship is when there is nothing that you physically can do to change the situation. For example, if a person was born into a dysfunctional family living in poverty. There is nothing that the child can do to overcome the poverty unless they physically remove themselves from that environment. It is not the child’s fault that his or her family lives in poverty. 

Challenge: 

A Challenge is meant to be overcome. A challenge is something that you have the power to change. For example; A person struggles with anger issues and those anger outbursts cause the dysfunction around them. It’s challenging and it won’t be easy to overcome those anger issues, but with the right tools and the right mindset, that person can overcome that struggle. 

Roadblock: 

A Roadblock, is similar to hardship which is something out of your control. This is where mindset comes in. Remember the above example of the child born to that poor home, well, this child only sees it as a roadblock and thus is determined to overcome it. That child will constantly look for ways to pull him or herself out of poverty. They will get creative and be ultra determined to do whatever it takes to change their lives and the lives of those that are around them. This can get dangerous and does require a great deal of guidance, because that determination, when misguided, can turn illegal, lethal, and dysfunctional. 

Detour: 

A detour, similar to the challenge and similar to the comparison of hardship and roadblock, can also be something that can lead someone into dysfunction if misguided. A detour is when a person needs to take a different route to reach the same destination they set out on. In my personal experience, I met a lot of people who ended up in prison as a detour, these are people that in prison discovered their true purpose and meaning in life. That is when they decided to transform their lives, and upon their release have become exceptional people in their communities and society at large. Some people refer to detours as “rock bottom”. Remember, we don’t need to hit rock bottom in order to make a change in our lives. 

Setback: 

A setback is only a temporary situation that doesn’t affect you in any negative way because you know that it will pass very soon and/or you have the knowledge and the skill to overcome this situation or circumstance. People who view challenges as mere setbacks are very few, they are the anomaly. Most people will see challenges as one of the 4 other types mentioned above. A setback can be absolutely any kind of situation that will be eligible for the above titles, but the key difference is the mindset. 

Conclusion: 

This is what the BEI (Becoming Exceptionally Irresistible) Journey is all about. It’s meant to give you the guidance, the tools, and the skillset to overcome these challenges so that you can view challenges as mere setbacks that you can definitely overcome. 

It is important to note that challenges will always be present, some more difficult than others, but with the right mindset, tools, and skillsets in your arsenal, you can be confident that nothing can take you down!

Are you ready to explore what the BEI Journey looks like? Come join us every second Tuesday of the month for our free BEI Workshop, check out this link: YermiKurkus.com/BEItheWorkshop

If not, that’s ok too, we would still love to hear your input about the different types of struggles and challenges that exist in your life. How do they play in your life and do how you overcome them? 

Contributors to this article include: 

Yermi Kurkus - Yermi has spent most of his career helping people at their lowest find meaning and purpose through proven methods that are built from psychology, philosophy, and mystical teachings. Yermi's approach is pragmatic and down to earth, thus coining the term Practical Mindfulness. 

Today, Yermi partners up with business owners, professionals, and individuals that want to become more "irresistible" in their personal and professional lives, as well as helping founders build "irresistible" systems in their businesses.

To learn more about Yermi Kurkus feel free to follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube. You can also reach Yermi by emailing him at [email protected] 

Boruch DuBrow - Boruch is an Exceptional Development Coach with over 13 years of experience as an educator. Boruch has helped hundreds of people feeling lost in life to discover their path and reach their potential. Today, Boruch educates and empowers individuals and organizations to discover their path, define their purpose, and create an “Exceptional” future for themselves, their families, and their organizations.

To learn more about Boruch DuBrow feel free to follow him on LinkedIn, or Instagram, You can also reach Boruch by emailing him at [email protected]