Having the strength to carry on

[Life's Travails]( Each time we break through, we reach a new understanding of the strength we store within ourselves. We have all faced moments in our lives when the pressure mounts beyond what we feel we can handle, and we find ourselves thinking that we do not have the strength to carry on. Sometimes we have just gotten through a major obstacle or illness only to find another one waiting for us the moment we finally catch our breath. Sometimes we endure one loss after another, wondering when we will get a break from life’s travails. It does not seem fair or right that life should demand more of us when we feel we have given all we can, but this is the way life works. When we look back on our lives, we can see that we have survived many trials and surmounted many obstacles, often to our own amazement. In each of those instances, we had to break through our ideas about how much we could handle and go deeper into our hidden reserves. Think of it like a frozen lake: it appears impenetrable, but when we break through it, we find a deep reservoir. When we break through the thought that we don’t have more to give or to even fall back on, we can find a well of energy and inspiration trapped beneath. Sometimes we break through by cutting a hole in our resistance with our willpower, and sometimes we melt the ice with compassion for our predicament and ourselves. Either way, each time we break through, we reach a new understanding of the strength we store within ourselves. When we find ourselves up against that barrier of thinking we cannot handle our situation, we may find that the kindest choice is to love ourselves and our resistance too. We can simply accept that we are overwhelmed, exhausted, and stretched and offer ourselves loving kindness and compassion. If we can extend the unconditional warmth of a mother’s love to ourselves, before we know it, the ice will begin to melt. [PRINT](  [SAVE](  [DISCUSS](  --------------------------------------------------------------- DailyOM Course Spotlight [Overcoming Fear of Aging]( by Margit Henderson Do you struggle with the fear of aging? In this 7-day course, psychologist Dr. Margit Henderson brings over 30 years of expertise to help you embrace a positive mindset about aging. She busts the myths that influence your worries about getting older and empowers you to develop a resilient, flourishing vision of yourself. Throughout the lessons, you'll learn effective self-care strategies to support your social, emotional, and physical health so you can savor life now and into the future. [Learn More]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Top 10 DailyOM Courses 1. [Fascia Flows to Free Your Body]( 2. [Aging Gracefully With Ballet]( 3. [Dealing With Emotionally Unavailable Partners]( 4. [Shedding Your Menopausal Middle in 10 Days]( 5. [A Year of Writing to Uncover the Authentic Self]( 6. [4 Minute Metabolism Booster]( 7. [Somatic Exercises to Relax and Release]( 8. [Heal Yourself From Adrenal Fatigue]( 9. [4 Minutes for Back Pain]( 10. [Clearing Physical and Emotional Clutter]( New Courses • [Yoga for People Who Can't Touch Their Toes]( • [Fascia Flows to Free Your Body]( • [Resistance Band Workout Anytime, Anywhere]( • [Somatic Exercises to Relax and Release]( > [More Courses]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Home]( | [Inspiration]( | [Courses]( | [Horoscopes]( [Email Settings]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Help/FAQ]( ©2022 [Everyday Health, Inc](. All rights reserved. DailyOM is among the federally registered trademarks of Everyday Health, Inc. and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. 114 Fifth Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10011 Subscribed as {EMAIL}