Spread the love

Rising Strong: Overcoming Your Struggles

*Disclosure: Post may contain affiliate links. See our full disclosure here.

Inside: By nurturing our mind, body, and spirit, prioritizing our health, and cultivating a resilient mindset, we can rise strong and thrive.

How are you doing?

You’re probably going to say fine. Don’t we all say fine most of the time?

But we aren’t.

It’s easier to say fine than to hash out what is truly bothering us.

It’s easier to say fine and walk on than to say I’m not doing well.

Why is this?

Maybe because we don’t want to air out our dirty laundry. Perhaps it’s because we don’t want to seem weak or pathetic.

Could it be that culture has told us a lie where we can do everything and be everything and if we fall short, that’s to be hidden?

Why do I say fine?

I think that to admit I’m struggling is to admit, something must be wrong with me. (And my human flesh doesn’t like how that sounds or feels!)

I bought into that lie for a long time. The lie that I shouldn’t admit I’m hurting or scared or anxious. I couldn’t admit I’m human without feeling shame.

I was afraid to admit I was struggling. That my faith was shaky.

That life was really hard. Like really hard during a season and I didn’t know how I’d make it through, I questioned if i would.

Why is that?

Rising Strong in the Hard Seasons

So many women I know and serve are in the age span from 30-50. They are in the midst of raising kids or just launching them. (Of course, there are outliers to this reading this blog!)

These women also have aging parents who might require either physical care or take up a large portion of mental head space.

For instance, we worry about them and have concerns about them and their future.

As if this wasn’t enough, many of us are also dealing with the effects of hormones waxing and waning which can cause even more physical, emotional, and mental problems.

Hot flash anyone?

Maybe you find yourself after years of raising kids and putting them first the relationships you have now, our marital relationships or friendships are ever-evolving and changing.

You are hopeful for a really great friendship.

Additionally, your marriage has changed as the kids have grown older or are leaving the nest.

Finally, through all of this, you are committed to growing in faith and spending more time with God, but yet instead of it being at the top of the “To-Do List,” it somehow gets buried, and more days than not you forget.

Or maybe this is just me? I can own up to it!

This season of life is hard and challenging with so many feelings involved from loneliness to overwhelm and anxiety to stress.

Overcoming Struggles

Friend, it’s a busy season, and here’s what I want to offer you and me.

All those feelings are valid because we are human. Don’t let anyone make you feel guilt and shame for that.

What I also want to say is that we can’t get through this season without God’s help.

The Bible tells us to remain in Jesus, to connect to Him.

(John 15:1, NLT).

15 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.

Here’s the deal, we want to connect to everything else in this world as humans.

We listen to that small whisper that tries to get us to believe that God isn’t enough

The lie is we can fill that God-shaped hole in our hearts with something else.

Open your eyes and see people filling it with online shopping, the next Netflix series, alcohol, drugs, etc. (We fill it too with so many different things!)

They have listened to the lies instead of finding the True Vine.

The truth is, we can’t do anything without abiding and being connected to Jesus.

This season of life is no different!

As I listed above in the first few paragraphs, there are a lot of struggles right here in this season.

Unmasking the Mess: Rising Above Struggles

My blog started in 2016 when I was in the midst of a health struggle. I felt all of the emotions I already listed, and it wasn’t until I connected to God and did some personal work that I saw enormous growth start to happen.

It was the hardest season of my life and I didn’t know how I’d make it through- my thoughts were my biggest hindrance.

God’s Word tells us to take captive our thoughts because right here is where we can either grow or slowly die.

What we think dictates our feelings and behavior and ultimately our lives.

You don’t believe me?

Let’s work through an example:

I want you to think of a blessing in your life right now. Now notice how you feel, keep thinking about this beautiful blessing. Your body feels lighter and you have the optimism to look for even more blessings in your life.

Okay, now let’s think of something hard you’re going through right now (or think back to a hard time in your life!). Think about how it’s so frustrating and tiring. How it just won’t resolve and you’re so over it. Notice your feelings and where in your body this bothers you.

Which one did you prefer? See how your thoughts affect your feelings. I bet if you had to go somewhere after the negative feelings, you would behave differently than the behavior from your positive thinking.

As I’ve ministered to women since 2016, I’ve noticed that not only are so many dealing with thoughts affecting their lives, but also how to nurture their minds, bodies, and spirit!

When I started working on all of these things, my life changed!

Now before you think I’m some superhuman, I am not. I win some days and lose some days but overall, my thought life and health are completely different from where it was in 2016.

Triumphing over Life’s Hurdles

Here’s the deal: God transforms us but we need to do our part too.

So many women don’t know that they have active roles in this transformation!

They expect to pray and the total makeover is complete. I so wish this was the way it was (and of course God could do that), but He’s given us free will to choose how we want to live.

He gives us directions in His Word and help but also wants us to do our part.

It’s working in tandem.

I have put together a guide to give you a beginner’s starting point to get you working on this journey!

It’s called Rising Strong: The Wellbeing Journey to Overcoming Struggles and Nurturing Mind, Body, and Spirit.

Our health is a few different areas: physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual, and if any of these areas are not well, it will affect the whole body!

You can probably guess where the most important area is though, it’s spiritual!

God’s Word tells us that:

(1 Timothy 4:8, NLT.)

“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

In this Rising Strong guide, I cover:

Physical Health such as nutrition, exercise, sleep
Mental/Emotional Wellbeing
Healthy Relationships
Self-Care with emphasis on God

In conclusion, as women in our 30s, 40s, and 50s, we face unique challenges that require a holistic approach to well-being.

By nurturing our mind, body, and spirit, prioritizing our health, and cultivating a resilient mindset, we can rise strong and thrive.

Remember, your journey is unique, and embracing self-compassion and celebrating progress along the way is essential.

Connecting daily to the Vine and asking for His help, wisdom, and guidance is also essential!

Explore the Rising Strong Guide to discover comprehensive strategies and resources to empower your personal growth and well-being.

Empower yourself today and embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and personal growth. Together, let’s rise strong!

To dive deeper into these transformative strategies and resources, download the Rising Strong Guide for women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s.

Start your journey toward empowerment and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead as you rise above:

Rising Strong guide

If you need more resources to equip you to rise above any obstacle, tap into your inner strength, and walk confidently in God’s grace, join my Facebook group called Rise Above the Struggles!