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10 Words to Describe a Difficult Journey

By Ali Dixon

words to describe a difficult journey

If you want to present a challenging path a character in your book is taking, illustrate it using the following 10 words to describe a difficult journey.

Challenging or straining ; reaching or surpassing one’s endurance.

“The journey was a long and  trying  one, and by the end of it, they were all relieved to have finally reached their destination.”

“After their  trying  journey there, they took a long, well-earned rest.”

How It Adds Description

If a journey is difficult, then that can require a serious test of endurance.  Describing  the journey as a trying one can emphasize how difficult the journey was. You can use this word with some flexibility as well since a journey could be physically or emotionally trying.

Extending a significant distance or spanning a great length .

“Getting to the other side of the mountains would entail a  long , difficult journey.”

“If they wanted to reach their destination in time, they knew they would have to head out on their  long  journey as soon as possible.”

There are a lot of things that can make a journey difficult, including the length of the journey itself. Putting your character on a long journey can add even more tension to your story and make it more rewarding when your character finally reaches their destination.

Involving or imposing a burden .

“They all knew it would be a tiresome,  onerous  journey, so they made sure that they had packed all the supplies they would need.”

“She thought many times about giving up on her  onerous  journey, but she knew that what waited for her ahead would be worth all the trouble she had gone to.”

Onerous isn’t a word one sees often, so it can stand out to your readers. Seeing it can help to emphasize how much of a burden the adventure that your character is going on is to them.

4. Grueling

Punishing ; difficult to the point of exhaustion.

“After their long,  grueling  journey, they rewarded themselves with a hearty meal and a long, restful sleep.”

“Getting to the other side of the map would without a doubt be a  grueling  task, but it was one that the entire team was up for.”

Want to ensure that your readers know difficult the journey is on your character? Use the word grueling. This word can emphasize that not only is the journey hard, but it feels close to a punishment.

5. Exhausting

Extremely tiring .

“Since they had to plan for such an  exhausting  journey, they spent a long time beforehand making sure that they would have all the supplies they needed.”

“When he started on the road, he had been keen and bright-eyed, but by the end of the  exhausting  and challenging journey, all he wanted to do was rest.”

Something that is exhausting is more than just a little tiring. Calling the journey exhausting will help to describe both the physical state as well as the mental state your character is in when the journey is finally done.

Upward on an incline or hill ; against challenges.

“The  uphill  journey left them feeling nothing but tired by the end of it.”

“She knew that what she would find at the end of the road would be worth it, but the  uphill  climb was going to make things that much more challenging.”

The word uphill can be used literally to describe an inclined terrain your character must go up. You can also use it metaphorically to demonstrate that your character must face other challenges along the way to their destination.

7. Formidable

Causing feelings of apprehension or dread ; impressive of instilling feelings of wonder.

“He had no idea what he would find at the end of his  formidable  journey.”

“As she looked at the map in front of her, she considered what she would have to bring with her on such a  formidable  journey.”

If the journey that one of your characters is going on is quite daunting, then you can describe it as formidable. You can also use it in a slightly more positive sense to show that the journey inspires feelings of awe.

8. Intimidating

Causing a loss of confidence and inspiring feelings of timidity, fear, or anxiety .

“At first it had seemed like an easy adventure, but the more he thought about it, the more  intimidating  it became.”

“The map had seemed  intimidating  at the time, but now that she was well on her way, the road seemed much easier.”

If a journey looks like it’s going to be particularly long or hard, then it’s probably going to be pretty intimidating for the character going on it. This word will help describe the tension your character is experiencing.

Marked by difficult terrain ; challenging to travel through or across; not easy.

“The journey would be a  rough  one, and would require packing several days’ worth of supplies.”

“They would follow the  rough  road all the way to the end.”

The word rough can be used to describe the actual terrain that your characters are traveling across. You can also use it to describe the journey itself, as calling something rough means that it is challenging or not easy.

10. Satisfying

Rewarding ; causing feelings of contentment or pleasure by providing something needed.

“After such a difficult but  satisfying  journey, the team was rewarded with some good food and a few comfortable beds to sleep on.”

“She knew that despite all the challenges, the journey would be  satisfying , especially once she reached the hidden treasure.”

A difficult journey doesn’t have to be entirely negative! When your character finally reaches the end of their road, they’re likely to find a lot of satisfaction. Describing the relief and reward your characters have achieved through this journey will make it feel satisfying to your readers as well.

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What does challenging yourself mean?

Why should i challenge myself, how to challenge yourself, final thoughts.

Think back to the last time you challenged yourself. 

Most likely, it involved leaving your comfort zone . There's a lot that falls under the umbrella of trying something new. For instance, maybe you ran an extra mile, woke up earlier than usual, or tried a new approach to solving a problem. 

It doesn't matter if it's a small challenge or a big one that takes a year to accomplis h. It's still a challenge.

If you're on the road to self-improvement or personal growth, you need to know why and how to challenge yourself.

What does a challenge mean? It means you've stepped outside your comfort zone and taken on a new task. You've set new goals for yourself, and you're ready to work hard to achieve them.

A challenge is something that teaches you how to grow as a person. They encourage personal development and are a way to work on self-improvement .

The challenges you take on test your resiliency, grit, and determination because — well, they're challenging. They aren't supposed to be easy and accomplished without any effort. Challenging things to do might look different for you than it does for your coworkers, siblings, or friends, but th at's OK.

Your challenges could seem like little things, like trying to wake up earlier or shake bad habits like smoking, but they're still challenges. Everyone’s experience is different. 

In fact, that's the beauty of a challenge. It opens you up to new experiences and puts in the effort to improve yourself every day. It lets you really focus on yourself. Whether you're challenging yourself to declutter and stay organized or run a marathon, the challenges you set for yourself to overcome are entirely your own.

New challenges can be scary. They push you outside your comfort zone, and you don't know if letting go of old mindsets and habits will improve your personal development. But while it's daunting to take on new goals , they’ll lead you to new opportunities.

Why do people enjoy a challenge? Challenges help you discover new skills, jump into new experiences, and boost your well-being. If you're feeling stuck in life, embracing new challenges gives you the chance to grow. New challenges can give you the confidence boost you need and encourage you to push further with your personal growth. 

Challenges make you think harder and demand focus, too. Research has found that mentally challenging yourself stimulates brain function and helps to curb anxiety and depression . Doing something different that requires focus and effort invites you to learn something new , gain a different perspective, and shake up your routine.

Imagine your life if you didn't challenge yourself at all. You would wake up every day and ignore any new opportunities that would come your way. You wouldn't seize any chance to improve your skills, find a job that makes you happier, or try new hobbies. 

You aren't alone if you look at new challenges and feel a sense of doubt . If you're feeling uneasy, learn more about what a BetterUp coach can do for you. Together, we'll help you face challenges with a more positive, excited mindset.

Couple-Making-An-Announcement-At-A-Backyard-Dinner-Party-how-to-challenge-yourself

Once you've decided that you're going to challenge yourself, consider where to start. Challenges come in all different sizes, styles, and categories in your life. They can impact your personal life, profession al career, or both simultaneously. 

Your physical well-being and financial well-being, emotional well-being, and social well-being are rich with challenges. Bonus, when you're taking on challenges, these areas will benefit.

If you're having trouble thinking of ways to challenge yourself, an e xcellent strategy is to break goals down into different parts of your life. Take a look at these 13 challenges divided into personal, professional, and fitness categories:

1. Prioritize your mental health more

When you have a lot going on, it can be easy to forget to take care of yourself. Choosing to value your well-being and letting go of things that hurt you can be a big challenge. 

Personal growth takes time, but you'll see the benefits in your everyday life once you practice more self-care . This can look like managing stress better , getting a good night's sleep , or knowing when to say no . 

2. Limit the time you spend online

Is the main culprit of your procrastinating your social media apps? We're all guilty of spending too much time online, but if your new goal is to be more focused on work, you might want to try limiting your time on social media. You may even try a digital detox . 

If your morning routine is to hop on Instagram before anything else, swap in another activity instead of scrolling. Try stretching or mindful meditation . Anything that prepares you for a productive day is worthwhile.

3. Start writing in a journal

man-with-a-beard-writes-in-his-journal-how-to-challenge-yourself

Journaling can help us track our progress and stress and hold us accountable for our new goals. It's a great way of reflecting on memories with loved ones, old friends, and more. Think of journaling as a personal, intimate way of connecting with yourself. 

Setting time aside in your day to write these entries may be tricky, but the key is to establish a routine and stick with it. Even five minutes each evening before bed will make a difference. 

4. Downsize your closet

When was the last time you looked over your clothes? If you have many items in your closet that you haven't worn in years, take the time to free up some space. Get rid of clothes that don't fit or no longer match your taste. 

Once you have a pile that you're ready to part with, consider donating them to your local shelter or asking your friends if they want them. Decluttering your space will declutter your mind — and help you identify your personal style. 

5. Improve your memory

It might be a challenge to remember what you went to the grocery store for, or maybe you know you'd excel at your job if you had a better memory. Improving your memory takes time, and you won't see results overnight. But it's still possible to improve.

Things like drawing have been found to benefit your working memory and improve it over time. You could also try downloading certain apps on your phone to help y ou with this challenge.

This challenge is more long-term, so you'll have to remain dedicated. Think about when you're most available to dedicate time each day for your memory improvement. It could be during your morning routine or over your lunch break. 

Professional:

6. take a class to learn something new.

Perhaps you had the chance to learn something new before, but you didn't go for it. Now's the time to go back and try again. 

New classes could help your professional career by teaching you new skills and getting you qualified in more areas of your industry. You could learn a new language that helps you with your job or that you've always wanted to learn. Make sure you choose classes that work well with your schedule.

7. Take a leadership role at work

Female-Team-Working-In-A-Modern-Office-how-to-challenge-yourself

If you've always been the employee who follows, try to lead . You'll develop your leadership skills and establish yourself as someone who isn't afraid to be in charge. Plus, your efforts in this area will show your coworkers and boss that you can handle new opportunities. 

If you make a mistake as a leader, be prepared to own it. Mistakes happen, and everyone faces leadership challenges . Remember that you're helping yourself grow in your career, and mistakes are part of the process.

8. Find a mentor

Everyone gets a little lost and confused from time to time. If you're feeling this way in your industry, a mentor could be the person who shares their wisdom with you. They could answer your questions, inspire you to learn new skills, or even give you a sense of comfort within your work.

Your mentor could also teach you about self-motivation and how to sustain it for your future career endeavors.

It can be challenging to initiate your mentorship and find someone who fits your needs. But there's no question: the pros of the mentor-mentee relationship outweigh this difficulty.

9. Start networking more

Networking isn't every professional's favorite thing to do. It's daunting, and putting yourself out there is nerve-wracking. But think about how spending time networking could help your career growth, not to mention your confidence.

 Attend workshops or seminars about your work, and look for new opportunities from there. Don't forget other skills, like conversing with people and articulating your thoughts.

10. Set a step goal

A step goal is a challenge requiring you to get up and move daily. It's a small habit that can make a big difference. 

Your step goals don't have to be huge, but they should push you to exercise more than you did before. You can use apps like MyFitnessPal to track your steps or trackers like an Apple Watch or FitBit to help you out.

11. Take up a new sport

Is there a sport or physical activity you've heard great things about? Why not try it? Do your research and see if your local gyms or community centers offer beginner classes or intramural teams. 

Make sure you have access to any necessary equipment and give it your best shot. If you're nervous about trying it alone, ask a friend if they'd like to do this challenge with you. 

12. Become more flexible

Woman-Stretching-At-Home-how-to-challenge-yourself

Flexibility is a fitness challenge that anyone can do, and we often forget about it. Stretching each day is a good habit as it helps your body alleviate tension. If you're doing other physical challenges, it can be a good cool down, too. 

Set yourself goals, even if you start small, and work to touch your toes while standing up. Work to fit it into your morning routine when you first wake up or stretch after a long day full of work to decompress. 

13. Go for a long walk every single day

Do you have any parks nearby that you'd like to explore? Challenging yourself to go for a long walk e ach day is a commitment, but it's pretty rewarding. Studies have found that walking improves your mood, boosts brainpower, and helps your physical health .

Plus, this new habit could help you meet new friends as you venture to try new places or provide some inspiration for some of your creative pursuits.

Since your walk might take up an hour or more of your time, do your best to plan ahead. Stick to a set routine to help your t ime management . 

These new challenges aren't something that everyone will look at and feel like jumping in to right away. But that's part of the challenge itself. As you learn that personal growth starts outside of your comfort zone, you'll be more inclined to learn how to challenge yourself.

The positive thing is that you don't have to do all of these self-improvement challenges simultaneously. Pace yourself, and be proud of your accomplishments.

Here are five final tips when it comes to challenging yourself:

  • Accept your failures , but don't let them dictate your next moves
  • Look for inspiration to help you keep your momentum
  • Don't be impatient with your goals
  • Learn to love learning
  • Be present and appreciate your journey

A BetterUp coach can help you face your scariest of challenges. Our coaches will act as your biggest supporters, helping you to reach your goals confidently.

Maggie Wooll

Thought Leader

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Example sentences difficult journey

They see their development as a long, often difficult journey .
It's been a difficult journey for me, this learning to be my own person.
The eight years in between have been a long and difficult journey .
Each day they gather virtually, to share a unique, incredibly difficult journey .
It was a difficult journey , which took 20 days or so.

Definition of 'difficult' difficult

IPA Pronunciation Guide

Definition of 'journey' journey

A2

COBUILD Collocations difficult journey

Browse alphabetically difficult journey.

  • difficult environment
  • difficult feat
  • difficult issue
  • difficult journey
  • difficult match
  • difficult negotiation
  • difficult opponent
  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'D'

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Experiencing hardship and adversity

The role of resilience in times of crisis, building resilience tip 1: practice acceptance, tip 2: reach out to others, tip 3: invest in self-care, tip 4: look for meaning and purpose, tip 5: stay motivated, surviving tough times by building resilience.

Whether you’re facing a global or personal crisis—or a mix of both—building resilience can help you cope with stress, overcome adversity, and enjoy the better days to come.

challenging journey meaning

Lately, the world seems to be lurching from one crisis to another. We’ve experienced a global pandemic, dramatic changes to how we conduct our daily lives, economic uncertainty, and political and social turmoil, as well as an array of natural disasters. Then there are personal traumas that people are also dealing with, such as the loss of a loved one, declining health, unemployment, divorce, violent crime, or tragic accidents. For many us, this is a time of unprecedented struggle and upheaval.

Whether the source of disruption in your life is a global emergency or a personal tragedy—or both—living through difficult times can take a heavy toll on your mood, health, and outlook. It can leave you feeling helpless and overwhelmed by stress and anxiety. You may be painfully grieving all that you’ve lost, flooded by a slew of difficult, conflicting emotions, or uncertain about how to move on with your life. You may even feel that your life is totally out of control and you’re powerless to affect whatever may happen next.

While there’s no way to avoid sorrow, adversity, or distress in life, there are ways to help smooth the rough waters and regain a sense of control. Resilience is the ability to cope with the loss, change, and trauma that have been inevitable parts of life even before these extraordinary times. Building resilience can help you better adapt to life-changing events, cope with turbulent times, and bounce back from hardship and tragedy.

Why do some people seem to be better able to cope in these troubling times than others? While everyone’s situation is different, it is true that people with resilience tend to have a higher tolerance for the emotional distress generated by hard times. The more resilient you are, the better you’re able to tolerate the feelings of stress, anxiety, and sadness that accompany trauma and adversity—and find a way to rebound from setbacks.

[Read: How to Cope with Traumatic Events]

We all go through bad times, we all experience disappointment, loss, and change, and we all feel sad, anxious, and stressed at various times in our lives. But building resilience can help you to maintain a positive outlook, face an uncertain future with less fear, and get through even the darkest days.

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Building resilience

If you’re more sensitive to emotional distress and are finding it difficult to cope with hardship or adversity, it’s important not to think of it as some kind of character flaw. Resilience isn’t a macho quality and it isn’t fixed; it’s an ongoing process that requires effort to build and maintain over time.

Unless you’ve faced adversity in your life before, it’s unlikely you’ve had the need or opportunity to develop resilience. Drawing on past experiences can help you cope with the challenges you’re facing today. Even if you’ve struggled to cope with adversity in the past, you may at least be able to recognize some of the ways of coping that DON’T help, such as trying to numb your feelings with drugs or alcohol .

While it’s often difficult to imagine anything good coming out of traumatic experiences, building resilience can help you find any positives in the difficulties you’ve faced. Surviving hardships can teach you important things about yourself and the world around you, strengthen your resolve, deepen your empathy, and in time enable you to evolve and grow as a human being.

Building resilience can also help you to:

  • Stay focused, flexible, and productive, in both good and bad times.
  • Feel less afraid of new experiences or an uncertain future.
  • Manage and tolerate strong emotions outside your comfort zone, even those you’d rather avoid like anger or despair.
  • Strengthen your relationships and improve your communication skills, especially under pressure.
  • Bolster your self-esteem.
  • Be confident you’ll eventually find a solution to a problem, even when one isn’t immediately apparent.

You can develop and improve these qualities of resilience at any time, regardless of your age, background, or circumstances. The following tips can help you face hardships with more confidence, better cope with these tumultuous times, and make it through to the brighter, more hopeful days ahead.

While we all react to stressful events in different ways, many of us try to protect ourselves by refusing to accept the truth of what’s happening. After all, by denying that you’re even experiencing a crisis, you can kid yourself that you still have some sense of control over what are usually uncontrollable events.

While denial can have some positive functions—it can give you an opportunity to come to terms with the shock of a traumatic event, for example—over time, it will just prolong your pain. Staying in denial will prevent you from adapting to your new circumstances, stop you from seeking solutions or taking action, and stifle the healing process.

Accept the situation

Change is an inevitable part of life and many aspects of the changing world are outside your individual control. You can’t control the spread of a virus, for example, the pace of social change, or how the economy behaves. While it can be tough to acknowledge, railing against events or circumstances outside your control will only drain you of energy and leave you feeling anxious and hopeless. Accepting your situation, on the other hand, can free you up to devote your energy to the things that you do have control over.

Focus on things within your control. Make a list of all the things you can’t control and give yourself permission to stop worrying about them . Instead, focus on the action that you can take. If you’re unemployed, you can’t control whether the ideal job appears in the wants ads or whether an employer will grant you an interview. But you can control how much time and effort you put into searching for work or brushing up on your skills. Similarly, if a loved one is facing a life-threatening illness, you may have to relinquish control to the medical experts, but you can still focus on providing your loved one with as much emotional support as possible.

Accept change by looking to your past. Looking back at examples where you’ve coped with uncertainty and change before can help you accept your current situation. Perhaps you suffered a painful breakup in the past and were eventually able to move on with your life, or you lost a job and ended up finding a better one? Examining your past successes can also help you see past the current crisis and derive some confidence that you’ll be able to pull through again.

Accept your feelings

It’s tempting to believe that the best way to get through hard times is by ignoring painful emotions and “putting on a brave face”. But unpleasant emotions exist whether you choose to acknowledge them or not. Trying to prevent your emotions from surfacing will only fuel your stress, delay acceptance of your new situation, and prevent you from moving on.

By allowing yourself to feel your emotions, you’ll find that even the most intense, upsetting feelings will pass, the trauma of these tough times will start to fade, and you’ll be able to find a path forward. Talk to someone you trust about what you’re experiencing or use HelpGuide’s Emotional Intelligence Toolkit to reconnect with your emotions.

Grieve your losses

Undergoing tough times usually involves some kind of loss. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the loss of your old life, it’s important you allow yourself the opportunity to grieve. Only by facing your grief —acknowledging and mourning your losses—will you be able to heal and eventually move on with your life.

Connecting with friends and family when you’re going through tough times can help ease stress, boost your mood, and make sense of all the change and disruption . Instead of feeling like you’re facing your problems alone, you can draw strength and build resilience from having others to lean on.

The people you reach out to don’t need to have answers to the problems you’re facing; they just need to be willing to listen to you without judging. In fact, what you talk about or the words used are often unimportant. It’s the human connection—eye contact, a smile, or a hug—that can make all the difference to how you’re feeling.

Prioritize relationships . Nothing carries the same health benefits as connecting face-to-face with someone who is caring and empathetic. These days, however, it’s not always possible to see friends and loved ones in person. If you’re kept apart by geography, lockdown, or travel restrictions, for example, reach out to others via phone, video chat, or social media.

Don’t withdraw in tough times. You may be inclined to retreat into your shell when you’re facing challenges in your life. You may fear being a burden to friends and loved ones or feel too exhausted to reach out. But try to keep up with social activities even when you don’t feel like it. Good friends won’t consider you a burden—they’re more likely to feel flattered that you trust them enough to confide in them.

Try to avoid negative people. Some friends are good listeners, kind and empathetic. Others seem to only fuel negative emotions, leaving you feeling even more stressed, anxious, or panicky. Try to avoid anyone who magnifies your problems, criticizes, or makes you feel judged.

Expand your social network. Even though relationships are vital for good mental health , building resilience, and getting through tough times, many of us feel that we don’t have anyone to turn to in times of need. But there are plenty of ways to build new friendships and improve your support network. If you know others who are lonely or isolated, be the one to take the initiative and reach out.

Living through tough times can be both mentally and physically draining. Constantly being in a heightened state of stress can lead to serious health problems, impact your immune and digestive systems, increase your risk of heart attack and stroke, and lead to burnout , a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion.

Since the body and mind are so closely linked, investing in self-care is an important part of building resilience and getting through times of great stress. When your body feels strong and healthy so, too, will your mind.

Get enough exercise. When you’re dealing with chronic stress, you likely carry it somewhere in your body. Maybe your muscles are tense, you have back or neck pain, frequent headaches, insomnia, heartburn, or an upset stomach? Getting regular exercise not only releases powerful endorphins in the brain to improve your mood, but it can also help to ease tension in the body and counteract the physical symptoms of stress.

Practice a “mind and body” relaxation technique. Practices such as yoga, tai chi, and meditation blend deep breathing and body awareness to help you relieve stress and bring your nervous system back into balance. Try one of HelpGuide’s audio meditations to boost your physical and emotional well-being.

[Listen: Inner Strength Meditation]

Improve your sleep. When you’re facing adversity, nothing wears down your resilience like missing out on a good night’s sleep. Often, improving your daytime habits and taking the time to relax and unwind before bed can help you sleep better at night .

Eat well. There are no specific foods that can help build resilience and weather tough times. Rather, it’s your overall dietary pattern that’s important. Eating lots of processed and takeout food can take a toll on your brain and mood, sapping your energy, and weakening your immune system. A healthy diet , on the other hand—one that’s low in sugar and rich in healthy fats—can give you the energy and focus to tackle the challenges you’re facing.

Manage your overall stress levels . Taking steps to manage your overall stress can break the hold it has over your life, improve your mood, and help you build the resilience you need to hold up under pressure at this time.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by frightening headlines or consumed by the crisis you’re facing. But whatever your circumstances, it doesn’t have to define you as a person. You are not your crisis. By pursuing activities that bring purpose and meaning to your life, you can keep your problems in perspective, prevent them from overwhelming you, and maintain your identity.

Everyone is different so we all have different ways of experiencing purpose and meaning. Don’t limit yourself by others’ expectations; pursue activities that are important to you and add satisfaction to your life.

Give help to others. When you’re in the midst of a crisis, it’s common to feel powerless and helpless. By proactively helping others, you can regain a sense of control as well as find purpose in your life. In fact, giving support can be just as beneficial as receiving support. Try volunteering , helping others in your neighborhood, giving blood, donating to a charity, or marching for a cause that’s important to you.

Pursue your hobbies and interests. In turbulent times, it’s important not to cast aside interests that nourish your spirit. For many of us, it’s these things that define us as individuals and bring meaning to our lives. Whether it’s playing a sport, caring for a pet , an artistic or musical endeavor, home improvement projects, or spending time in nature, continuing to draw pleasure from your pastimes adds to your ability to cope with the stress of difficult times.

An important part of coping with adversity and making it through tough times is to foster qualities of persistence and endurance. Tough times don’t last forever, but by their very nature they’re rarely over quickly. As you plot a road through the darkness, you need to find ways to stay motivated and persevere.

Deal with your problems one step at a time. If a problem is too big to deal with all at once, try breaking it down into smaller, more manageable steps. If your problem seems to have no possible solution, you can still take action by drawing up a list, researching more about the subject, or seeking the advice of a trusted friend or loved one.

Celebrate small wins. To stay motivated and positive as you navigate stormy seas in life, take a moment to savor your small successes. If you’re looking for work, for example, getting an interview isn’t as meaningful as landing a job, but it’s a sign of progress, a step in the right direction. Noting these small wins can give you a welcome break from all the stress and negativity you’re facing and encourage you to keep going.

[Read: Finding Joy During Difficult Times]

Try to maintain a hopeful outlook. While it’s difficult to stay positive and hopeful in the midst of a crisis, many of us tend to blow our problems out of proportion and make them seem even more negative than they really are. Try taking a step back and examining your situation as an outsider. Are their rays of hope that you can focus on? Instead of worrying about what you fear may happen, try visualizing what you’d like to happen instead.

Express gratitude. It may sound trite, but even when you’re experience terrible times, it’s usually possible to find one thing you can be grateful about—the love of a pet, for example, a beautiful sunset, or a caring friend. Taking a moment to acknowledge your gratitude for such small things can provide respite from the stress and really boost your mood.

Be kind to yourself. Everyone adjusts to change and upheaval differently. Don’t criticize your coping skills or beat yourself up for every mistake you make. Self-compassion is an important part of building resilience, so go easy on yourself.

More Information

  • Building your resilience - A roadmap for adapting to life-changing situations. (American Psychological Association)
  • Tolerating Distress - Tools to help you face your feelings during difficult times. (Centre for Clinical Interventions)
  • Five Science-Backed Strategies to Build Resilience - Ways to build resilience and confront emotional pain. (Greater Good Magazine, UC Berkeley)
  • Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders. (2013). In Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders . American Psychiatric Association. Link
  • Norris, F. H. “Epidemiology of Trauma: Frequency and Impact of Different Potentially Traumatic Events on Different Demographic Groups.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 60, no. 3 (June 1992): 409–18. Link
  • Macedo, Tania, Livia Wilheim, Raquel Gonçalves, Evandro Silva Freire Coutinho, Liliane Vilete, Ivan Figueira, and Paula Ventura. “Building Resilience for Future Adversity: A Systematic Review of Interventions in Non-Clinical Samples of Adults.” BMC Psychiatry 14, no. 1 (August 14, 2014): 227. Link
  • Joyce, Sadhbh, Fiona Shand, Joseph Tighe, Steven J Laurent, Richard A Bryant, and Samuel B Harvey. “Road to Resilience: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Resilience Training Programmes and Interventions.” BMJ Open 8, no. 6 (June 14, 2018): e017858. Link
  • Lee, Tak Yan, Chau Kiu Cheung, and Wai Man Kwong. “Resilience as a Positive Youth Development Construct: A Conceptual Review.” The Scientific World Journal 2012 (May 2, 2012): 390450. Link
  • Forbes, Sarah, and Deniz Fikretoglu. “Building Resilience: The Conceptual Basis and Research Evidence for Resilience Training Programs.” Review of General Psychology 22, no. 4 (December 1, 2018): 452–68. Link
  • Shatté, Andrew, Adam Perlman, Brad Smith, and Wendy D. Lynch. “The Positive Effect of Resilience on Stress and Business Outcomes in Difficult Work Environments.” Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 59, no. 2 (February 2017): 135–40. Link
  • Hoegl, Martin, and Silja Hartmann. “Bouncing Back, If Not beyond: Challenges for Research on Resilience.” Asian Business & Management 20, no. 4 (September 1, 2021): 456–64. Link
  • Silver, Kristin E., Meera Kumari, Danette Conklin, and Gunnur Karakurt. “Trauma and Health Symptoms in a Community Sample: Examining the Influences of Gender and Daily Stress.” The American Journal of Family Therapy 46, no. 2 (2018): 153–67. Link
  • Sansbury, Brittany S, Kelly Graves, and Wendy Scott. “Managing Traumatic Stress Responses among Clinicians: Individual and Organizational Tools for Self-Care.” Trauma 17, no. 2 (April 1, 2015): 114–22. Link
  • Bower, Gordon H., and Heidi Sivers. “Cognitive Impact of Traumatic Events.” Development and Psychopathology 10, no. 4 (December 1998): 625–53. Link
  • Ley, Clemens, María Rato Barrio, and Andreas Koch. “‘In the Sport I Am Here’: Therapeutic Processes and Health Effects of Sport and Exercise on PTSD.” Qualitative Health Research 28, no. 3 (February 1, 2018): 491–507. Link
  • Hegberg, Nicole J., Jasmeet P. Hayes, and Scott M. Hayes. “Exercise Intervention in PTSD: A Narrative Review and Rationale for Implementation.” Frontiers in Psychiatry 10 (2019): 133. Link

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Navigating challenges

Embracing Life’s Journey: Navigating Challenges, Inspiring Growth

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I am all too familiar with the ups and downs of life , and I have firsthand experience of how important it is to embrace life’s journey. There are bound to be failures in your life, in the same way that there are bound to be successes. These could be professional or personal, and these could be big or small. If you ask me, it’s all part of the personal development and self-discovery process. It’s all part of growing and improving as an individual. Life will always throw hurdles and problems at you, which is why you need to embrace navigating challenges.

Instead of feeling defeated and downtrodden, utilise the opportunity to improve your resilience and growth. But, what does navigating challenges really mean, and why are they actually an important part of entrepreneurship?

Navigating Challenges Means Overcoming Obstacles and Building Resilience

Obstacles are inevitable. Whether you’re talking about your personal life or career, hurdles are part of life. They come in various forms such as setbacks and failures, but it’s overcoming these obstacles that helps you to build resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back, adapt and grow stronger even when you are faced with challenges. By embracing and navigating challenges, and seeing them as opportunities for growth, you can develop the strength and determination to succeed. 

Why don’t you view every obstacle that you overcome as a stepping stone, something that allows you to move on, face future challenges with confidence and build resilience. Without challenges, there is no guarantee that you would move forward in the same way.

The Importance of Challenges in Business

Challenges and hurdles in business have the potential to be hugely transformative, especially if they push you and your business to grow, develop and innovate. Challenges serve as opportunities for learning, problem solving, and as a way to build resilience. By encountering and overcoming obstacles, you can develop new strategies, refine your processes and improve your overall performance. Without challenges, who knows where you would be?

Challenges can spark creativity and inspire out of the box thinking. They can lead to innovative solutions and competitive advantages, that you might not have been privy to otherwise. Plus, navigating through hurdles builds character, fosters perseverance and encourages you to adapt. Ultimately, overcoming challenges is what helps us to reach new heights, discover our untapped potential and achieve long term success.

Embrace Change So You Can Embrace Personal Growth

Change is always happening in life. Sometimes it’s a joy, but it can also be intimidating and uncomfortable. But, it is also the catalyst for personal growth and transformation, and it should be embraced. Embracing change requires you to be open and open to adapting. It involves letting go of old patterns and beliefs that no longer serve you, and embracing new ways of doing things.

As change happens, you will have the chance to expand your abilities, discover new interests, and redefine yourself. By embracing change rather than resisting it, you can create the ideal conditions for personal growth.

How to Cultivate a Positive Mindset When You’re Navigating Challenges

A mindset plays a key role in how easy you find it to navigate life’s challenges. A positive mindset enables you to view obstacles as opportunities, and to view setbacks as learning experiences. It helps you to view challenges in a different way, focusing on the solutions, rather than worrying about the problems. By having a positive mindset, you can empower yourself to see the silver linings in difficult situations. A positive mindset sets the stage for growth, resilience and success. 

Challenges Have Made Me The Entrepreneur I Am Today

I’m not someone who shies away from challenges. They have played a pivotal role in shaping me into the business person I am today. Each obstacle I encountered along my entrepreneurial journey has been an opportunity for growth and self discovery, and that’s something I embrace. I have learned valuable lessons about resilience, adaptability and problem solving by facing challenges head on. The setbacks and hurdles I have encountered pushed me to explore new strategies, think creatively, and find innovative solutions. If it wasn’t for navigating challenges, I’m not sure Inc & Co would be here today. 

It is through these somewhat negative career experiences that I have gained the confidence, skills and insights needed to navigate the changing landscape of entrepreneurship.

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Scott Dylan

I’m Scott Dylan, Inc & Co Co-Founder. I oversee the company's strategic direction and work to acquire and invest in distressed and viable companies, helping businesses improve their business processes and setting strategic directions.

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Balancing Act: Managing Mental Health While Navigating a Busy Career

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The Benefits of Failing as an Entrepreneur

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Navigating Career Transitions: Successfully Changing Careers and Nailing Your Job Search

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Balancing Work and Personal Life

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challenging journey meaning

Cambridge Dictionary

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Meaning of challenging in English

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  • difficult It's very difficult to find a job in this city.
  • hard The exam was really hard.
  • complicated The instructions were so complicated I just couldn't follow them.
  • complex Designing a house is a complex process.
  • tricky It's quite tricky getting the puzzle pieces to fit together.
  • He resigned from the company in order to take a more challenging job .
  • She doesn't find the general knowledge crossword challenging enough.
  • You did that so well that I'm going to give you something a bit more challenging to do this time .
  • It's when you find yourself in a really challenging situation that you find out what you are capable of.
  • Some of the scenes were extremely challenging for an inexperienced actor .
  • ambiguously
  • esoterically
  • fathomlessly
  • it's all Greek to me idiom
  • labyrinthine
  • non-intuitive
  • unintuitive
  • unintuitively

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Overcoming Obstacles: 25 Hardest Things to Do in Life Explored

25 Hardest Things to Do in Life

Life is full of challenges, and some are more difficult than others. While some obstacles can be easily overcome, others require significant effort and resilience. In this article, we will explore the 25 hardest things to do in life and delve into the challenges they present. From facing personal obstacles to conquering adversity, we will provide insights on how to overcome these difficult life experiences .

Whether it’s losing a loved one , overcoming addiction , or pursuing a dream , life can be full of challenging tasks. But with the right mindset and strategies, we can navigate through life’s toughest challenges and emerge stronger and more resilient.

  • The 25 hardest things to do in life can be daunting, but they offer opportunities for personal growth and resilience.
  • Challenging life tasks such as losing a loved one , overcoming addiction , and pursuing a dream require effort and resilience.
  • With the right mindset and strategies, we can navigate through life’s toughest challenges and emerge stronger and more resilient.
  • It’s important to acknowledge and embrace the difficult tasks in life to empower ourselves to transform adversity into opportunity.

Life presents a variety of challenges, and what may be considered the “hardest” things to do can vary greatly from person to person. However, here are 25 difficult tasks or challenges that many people may encounter in their lives:

  • Facing your fears: Confronting and overcoming your deepest fears can be one of the most challenging things to do.
  • Grieving the loss of a loved one: Coping with the death of a family member or close friend is emotionally and mentally draining.
  • Ending a toxic relationship: Recognizing and leaving an unhealthy or abusive relationship can be incredibly difficult.
  • Forgiving someone who has hurt you: Letting go of resentment and forgiving someone who has wronged you can be a long and challenging process.
  • Overcoming addiction: Breaking free from substance abuse or other addictive behaviors is a complex and ongoing battle.
  • Battling mental health issues: Managing conditions like depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder can be a lifelong struggle.
  • Dealing with a serious illness: Coping with a severe medical diagnosis can be physically and emotionally taxing.
  • Pursuing a dream or passion: Achieving your long-term goals often requires perseverance and overcoming numerous obstacles.
  • Changing a deeply ingrained habit: Breaking habits like smoking, overeating, or procrastination can be extremely challenging.
  • Parenting: Raising children is a lifelong commitment that comes with numerous difficulties and responsibilities.
  • Rebuilding trust after a betrayal: Restoring trust in a relationship after it has been broken can be an arduous process.
  • Finding a life purpose: Discovering what truly fulfills you and gives your life meaning can be a lifelong journey.
  • Taking financial risks: Starting a business or investing in a new venture can be financially and emotionally demanding.
  • Moving to a new country or culture: Adapting to a new environment and culture can be a significant challenge.
  • Maintaining a long-distance relationship: Sustaining a loving relationship when separated by distance can be emotionally taxing.
  • Admitting when you’re wrong: Swallowing your pride and apologizing or admitting your mistakes can be difficult.
  • Balancing work and personal life: Achieving a healthy work-life balance can be a constant struggle.
  • Public speaking: Overcoming the fear of public speaking can be a daunting task for many.
  • Accepting the aging process: Coming to terms with the physical and emotional changes that come with getting older can be challenging.
  • Defending your beliefs in the face of opposition: Staying true to your principles and convictions, even in the face of criticism, can be tough.
  • Recovering from a traumatic experience: Overcoming the effects of trauma and finding a way to heal can be a lifelong process.
  • Giving up a bad habit: Quitting smoking, excessive drinking, or other harmful habits can be incredibly difficult.
  • Rebuilding after a major setback: Bouncing back after financial ruin, divorce, or a career setback can be a monumental challenge.
  • Navigating a difficult legal situation: Dealing with lawsuits, legal disputes, or criminal charges can be mentally and financially draining.
  • Embracing change and uncertainty: Adapting to life’s constant changes and facing an uncertain future can be a lifelong challenge.

Remember that what’s challenging for one person may not be as difficult for another, and different life circumstances can make these challenges more or less daunting. However, facing these challenges with resilience, support, and determination can lead to personal growth and development.

Losing a Loved One

Losing a loved one is undoubtedly one of the hardest things to endure in life. The pain and grief we experience can be overwhelming, and it can be challenging to find a way to move forward. However, it’s essential to remember that we are not alone in our suffering, and there are steps we can take to help us navigate through this difficult time.

One way to overcome the adversity of losing a loved one is to transform our grief into an opportunity for personal growth. It’s natural to feel lost and unsure of how to move forward, but by taking small steps towards self-care and healing, we can begin to rebuild our lives.

Finding Support

During this time, it’s crucial to seek support from family, friends, or a support group. Talking to others who have experienced a similar loss can help us feel less alone and provide a safe space to share our thoughts and emotions.

Alternatively, speaking with a therapist can also be a useful way to navigate through our grief and find ways to manage our emotions.

Embracing Memories

It’s easy to feel like we should forget our loved one or move on quickly, but it’s important to remember that it’s okay to hold onto memories and honor their legacy. Embracing memories through a special keepsake or memory book can be a therapeutic way to keep their memory alive.

Helping Others

Finally, helping others experiencing a similar loss can be a powerful way to transform our grief into something positive. Whether it’s volunteering with a local charity or simply reaching out to someone who needs support, helping others can provide us with a sense of purpose and help us heal.

Remember, losing a loved one is one of the most challenging experiences we can face, but with the right mindset and support, we can overcome adversity and transform our grief into an opportunity for personal growth.

Losing a Loved One

Conquering personal obstacles and navigating through life’s greatest challenges is no easy feat, but overcoming addiction may just be one of the hardest. Addiction can consume a person’s life, leaving them feeling helpless and trapped. However, with the right strategies, breaking free from addiction and reclaiming control over one’s life is possible.

The first step in overcoming addiction is acknowledging that there is a problem. This can be difficult, as addiction often comes with denial and a sense of shame. However, by admitting that there is a problem, individuals can begin the journey towards recovery. Seeking professional help and support from loved ones can also be crucial in overcoming addiction.

It’s important to understand that addiction is a disease, and recovery is a process. Consistency is key in maintaining sobriety, and it’s important to have a strong support system in place. Surrounding oneself with positive influences and finding healthy outlets for stress and negative emotions can also aid in the recovery process.

overcoming addiction

Overcoming addiction may be a difficult challenge, but it is possible. By conquering personal obstacles and navigating through life’s greatest challenges , individuals can break free from addiction and reclaim control over their lives. With the right mindset and strategies, recovery is within reach.

Facing a Serious Illness

Facing a serious illness can be one of life’s toughest challenges. It can test our physical and emotional resilience, leaving us feeling vulnerable and uncertain about the future. But it’s important to remember that we have the power to push the limits of personal growth and find strength in the face of adversity.

It’s normal to experience a range of emotions when dealing with a serious illness, from fear and anxiety to anger and sadness. One of the best ways to handle these feelings is to talk to someone you trust, whether it’s a friend, family member, or healthcare provider.

Another important aspect of facing a serious illness is staying informed about your condition. This can help you make more informed decisions about your health and treatment options.

It’s also important to take care of yourself both physically and mentally. This may involve getting enough rest, eating a healthy diet, and engaging in activities that bring you joy.

Remember, facing a serious illness is not a journey you have to go through alone. Seek the support of loved ones and healthcare professionals, and push yourself to find the courage and strength within to push through this difficult time.

Facing a Serious Illness

Forgiving someone who has hurt you deeply is one of the hardest things to do in life. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or significant other, the pain of betrayal can linger for years. But holding onto anger and resentment only harms us in the long run. Forgiveness is not about excusing or forgetting what someone has done, but rather finding a way to move forward and heal.

By forgiving , we can overcome adversity and transform it into an opportunity for personal growth. Studies have shown that forgiveness can lead to decreased stress levels, stronger relationships, and better overall health.

But forgiveness is not always easy. It requires empathy, patience, and a willingness to let go of the past. Here are some tips for embracing forgiveness:

  • Practice empathy: Try to understand the perspective of the person who hurt you. Recognize that they too may be struggling with their own pain and insecurities.
  • Take time to heal: Forgiveness is a process, and it’s important to give yourself time to work through your own emotions before attempting to forgive.
  • Speak your truth: Express how the person’s actions made you feel. Be honest and direct, but avoid attacking or blaming language.
  • Let go of resentment: Holding onto anger only harms us in the long run. Practice mindfulness and meditation to let go of negative thoughts and feelings.
  • Commit to forgiveness: Forgiveness is a choice. Choose to let go of the past and move forward towards healing and growth.

Forgiveness is not easy, but it is worth it. By letting go of anger and resentment, we can transform adversity into an opportunity for personal growth and healing. As Nelson Mandela once said, “Forgiveness liberates the soul. It removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon.”

forgiving

Offering a genuine apology can be a challenging task, requiring sincerity, humility, and courage. Whether we have hurt someone we care about or made a mistake at work, apologizing is a crucial step in repairing relationships and taking accountability for our actions. However, apologizing can also be a way to conquer personal obstacles and navigate through life’s greatest challenges.

When we apologize, we acknowledge our mistakes and take responsibility for them. This act of vulnerability can be uncomfortable, but it also allows for growth and learning. By owning up to our mistakes, we show that we are willing to learn from them and take steps to avoid making the same ones in the future.

One important aspect of apologizing is being specific about what we are apologizing for. Rather than giving a vague apology, it is essential to acknowledge the hurt we caused and explain how we plan to make things right. This shows that we understand the impact of our actions and are committed to making amends.

It’s also important to listen to the person we are apologizing to and recognize their feelings. Even if we did not intend to hurt them, acknowledging their emotions shows that we value their perspective and are committed to repairing the relationship.

Ultimately, apologizing is a way to conquer personal obstacles and navigate through life’s challenges. It requires vulnerability, introspection, and the willingness to learn from our mistakes. By apologizing sincerely and taking steps to make things right, we can repair relationships, grow as individuals, and navigate through life’s challenges with grace and humility.

Apologizing

Mending a broken relationship can be one of life’s toughest challenges. Whether it’s a romantic partner, family member, or friend, healing a fractured relationship takes effort and time. However, it’s important to remember that it’s possible to transform adversity into opportunity and create positive change.

One of the first steps in mending a relationship is to take responsibility for your actions. Acknowledge any mistakes you may have made and apologize sincerely. It may not be easy, but owning up to your part in the conflict can help to open the lines of communication.

It’s also important to be patient and understanding. Healing takes time, and both parties may need space and time to process their feelings. Avoid placing blame or becoming defensive, and instead, focus on listening actively and empathetically.

Transforming adversity into opportunity is essential for personal growth and building stronger relationships. By learning from past conflicts and working towards a resolution, both parties can move forward with a deeper understanding of themselves and each other.

Mending a Broken Relationship

Remember, mending a broken relationship takes effort and commitment, but it is possible. By handling life’s toughest challenges with patience, empathy, and understanding, we can transform adversity into opportunity and create positive change.

Starting Over

Starting over can be one of life’s toughest challenges. Whether it’s due to a major life change or a significant setback, it can be daunting to leave behind what we’ve known and begin anew. But it’s important to remember that starting over can also be a powerful opportunity for personal growth and reinvention.

When starting over , it’s important to focus on conquering personal obstacles and pushing the limits of personal growth . This means taking a hard look at ourselves and our habits, and making the necessary changes to become the best version of ourselves.

One of the keys to successfully starting over is to have a clear plan. This means setting achievable goals and creating a roadmap for how to achieve them. It’s important to stay organized and focused, and to celebrate the small victories along the way.

Remember, starting over can be a difficult journey, but it’s one that is worth taking. By embracing new beginnings and challenging ourselves to grow, we can create a fulfilling future. So take the leap, and see where starting over can take you.

Starting Over

Changing Careers

Changing careers can be overwhelming, but the rewards can be significant. Whether you’re feeling unfulfilled in your current job or you’re looking for a new challenge, navigating through life’s greatest challenges requires courage and determination. Transforming adversity into opportunity , you can use this transition period to discover what truly makes you happy and fulfilled.

Start by reflecting on your values and what matters most to you. Consider seeking out career counseling or taking personality tests to help discover your strengths and interests. From there, research different industries and job opportunities that align with your goals and passions.

Navigating through life’s greatest challenges means taking risks, but it’s important to have a solid plan in place. Consider networking with professionals in your desired field, taking relevant courses or certifications, and updating your resume and cover letter accordingly.

Transforming adversity into opportunity , changing careers can be a positive and empowering experience. By embracing the challenge and staying focused on your goals, you can navigate through this transition period and find a fulfilling career path.

Changing Careers

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” – Steve Jobs

Dealing with Rejection

Rejection is a natural part of life and can be emotionally challenging. Whether it’s a job application, a relationship, or any other situation, rejection can cause feelings of disappointment, self-doubt, and sadness. However, it’s important to remember that rejection does not define you or your worth as a person. It’s just a part of life’s toughest challenges.

To conquer personal obstacles and handle rejection, it’s important to maintain a positive mindset. Instead of dwelling on the negative aspects of rejection, try to reframe it as an opportunity for growth. Use rejection as a chance to reflect on your goals and values, and consider how you can improve yourself going forward. Remember that every rejection brings you one step closer to success.

Another important strategy for handling rejection is to practice self-care. Make time for activities that bring you joy and help you relax. Surround yourself with positive people who support and encourage you. These practices can provide a sense of comfort and stability during difficult times.

Finally, it’s important to stay resilient and persistent. Don’t let rejection discourage you from pursuing your goals. Learn from each experience and use that knowledge to improve your approach. Keep pushing forward and stay committed to your aspirations.

Dealing with Rejection

Remember, handling life’s toughest challenges means conquering personal obstacles, including rejection. By maintaining a positive mindset, practicing self-care, and staying resilient, you can navigate through rejection and emerge stronger and more determined than ever before.

Parenting: Overcoming Adversity and Pushing the Limits of Personal Growth

Parenting is one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in life. It requires constant adaptation and overcoming adversity . From sleepless nights to teenage rebellion, being a parent is not easy. However, it is also an opportunity for personal growth and pushing the limits of what we think is possible.

One of the biggest obstacles in parenting is dealing with the unexpected. From illnesses to accidents, parents must be prepared to handle anything that comes their way. Overcoming these challenges requires resilience and a willingness to seek help when necessary. It is okay to ask for support from family, friends, or professionals when needed.

Another hurdle in parenting is finding the balance between providing structure and allowing freedom. It can be difficult to know when to set boundaries and when to let children make their own choices. However, learning to navigate this balance is crucial for fostering independence and self-confidence.

Lastly, parenting is an opportunity for personal growth and pushing the limits of what we think is possible. It requires us to be patient, empathetic, and understanding, even when it’s challenging. By approaching parenting with an open mind and a willingness to learn, we can become better parents and better people overall.

Parenting

Overall, parenting is a journey of overcoming adversity and pushing the limits of personal growth . It is a chance to learn about ourselves and our children, and to become the best versions of ourselves. By embracing the challenges of parenting, we can create a stronger and more compassionate world for ourselves and our children.

Bouncing Back from Failure

Failure is a natural part of life, and it can be discouraging and overwhelming. However, it is important to remember that failure is not the end; it is an opportunity to learn and grow. By bouncing back from failure , we can transform adversity into opportunity and conquer personal obstacles.

One key to bouncing back from failure is to assess the situation honestly and take responsibility for any mistakes that were made. This allows us to learn from our failures and avoid making the same mistakes in the future. It is also important to maintain a growth mindset and view failure as an opportunity for improvement.

Another strategy for bouncing back from failure is to seek support from others. This can include family, friends, or mental health professionals who can provide guidance and encouragement. It is also important to acknowledge and celebrate small successes along the way, as this can help build momentum and confidence.

Remember, failure does not define us. Instead, it can serve as a powerful motivator for personal growth and transformation. By bouncing back from failure, we can strengthen our resilience, overcome obstacles, and ultimately find success.

Bouncing Back from Failure image

Pursuing a dream is one of life’s greatest challenges, but also one of the most rewarding experiences. Whether it’s starting a business, writing a book, or pursuing a passion, the journey towards achieving a dream can be filled with obstacles and require perseverance.

Navigating through life’s toughest challenges requires a mindset of growth and determination. It’s important to establish clear goals, create a plan of action, and stay committed to the process. Pushing the limits of personal growth means stepping outside of one’s comfort zone and embracing uncertainty. It’s important to remember that failure is a natural part of the process and should be seen as an opportunity for learning and growth.

When pursuing a dream, it’s important to surround oneself with a supportive community. Seek out mentors, join groups of like-minded individuals, and build a network of people who can offer guidance and encouragement along the way. Being part of a supportive community can provide motivation and accountability, and help navigate through the ups and downs of the journey towards achieving a dream.

Remember that pursuing a dream is a fulfilling and worthwhile endeavor. It requires resilience, hard work, and a willingness to learn and grow. Keep pushing towards the goal, embracing challenges as opportunities, and celebrating the small victories along the way. With dedication and perseverance, anything is possible.

Pursuing a Dream

Being vulnerable is one of the hardest things to do in life. It requires opening up and exposing our true selves, which can be scary and uncomfortable. But vulnerability is also necessary for personal growth and building meaningful connections with others.

Handling life’s toughest challenges often requires confronting our fears and insecurities. By acknowledging our vulnerabilities, we can start to conquer personal obstacles and find strength in our weaknesses.

“Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness.”

– Brene Brown

When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we create space for honest communication and emotional intimacy. This can lead to deeper connections with loved ones and a greater sense of fulfillment in life.

Being Vulnerable

So take a deep breath and embrace vulnerability. It may be uncomfortable at first, but the rewards are worth it. By facing our fears and opening up to others, we can conquer personal challenges and find true happiness.

Taking Responsibility

Taking responsibility for our actions is a crucial step towards personal growth. It means acknowledging the consequences of our choices and actions, whether good or bad. It’s easy to blame others or external circumstances, but true growth comes from owning our mistakes and learning from them.

Transforming adversity into opportunity often requires taking responsibility . When we take ownership of our mistakes, we can make amends and turn negative experiences into positive ones. By doing so, we push the limits of personal growth and become better versions of ourselves.

It’s important to remember that taking responsibility doesn’t mean beating ourselves up over our mistakes. Instead, it’s about accepting them and moving forward with a newfound sense of clarity and purpose. By doing so, we empower ourselves to create a fulfilling and meaningful life.

In conclusion, taking responsibility is a powerful tool for transforming adversity into opportunity and pushing the limits of personal growth. By owning our mistakes and learning from them, we become better equipped to navigate life’s toughest challenges.

Taking Responsibility

One of life’s toughest challenges is achieving a healthy work-life balance. With the demands of work and personal life, it can be difficult to prioritize self-care and find time for relaxation and hobbies. However, with the right strategies, it is possible to overcome this obstacle and find balance.

One important step in balancing work and life is setting boundaries. This may mean establishing work hours and sticking to them, or turning off work notifications outside of these hours. It is also important to prioritize self-care and make time for activities that bring joy and relaxation.

Another strategy is to practice time management skills, such as creating a schedule and prioritizing tasks. This can help reduce stress and increase productivity, allowing for more time for personal life outside of work. Additionally, seeking support from colleagues, friends, and family can provide a valuable network of encouragement and assistance.

Overcoming adversity in balancing work and life requires patience and perseverance. However, by prioritizing self-care, practicing time management, and seeking support, it is possible to find harmony and fulfillment in both professional and personal life.

Balancing Work and Life

In conclusion, life is full of difficult challenges that can leave us feeling lonely, stressed, regretful, and even facing our own mortality. However, by being honest with ourselves and embracing these challenges, we can find personal growth and fulfillment.

Coping with Loneliness

Feeling lonely can be a challenge, but there are ways to cope. Reach out to friends and family, join groups or clubs, or volunteer in your community. Focusing on helping others can also help alleviate loneliness.

Managing Stress

Stress can be overwhelming, but it’s important to find ways to manage it. Exercise, meditation, and deep breathing techniques can help reduce stress levels. Prioritizing self-care and setting boundaries can also help.

Being Honest with Oneself

Being honest with ourselves can be difficult, but it’s important for personal growth. Take time for self-reflection and identify areas for improvement. Seek feedback from trusted friends and mentors to gain a different perspective.

Facing Mortality

Facing mortality can be scary, but it can also be an opportunity to appreciate life and make the most of the time we have. Prioritize relationships and experiences that bring joy and fulfillment.

Dealing with Regret

Regret can be a heavy burden, but it’s important to forgive ourselves and learn from our mistakes. Focus on taking action in the present moment and creating a better future. Seek support from friends, family, or a therapist if needed.

What are the 25 hardest things to do in life?

In this article, we explore the 25 hardest things to do in life , including overcoming obstacles, facing personal challenges, and navigating through difficult experiences.

How can I navigate through the grief of losing a loved one?

Losing a loved one is incredibly difficult. We will discuss ways to navigate through grief, find support, and use this experience as an opportunity for personal growth.

What strategies can help me overcome addiction?

Overcoming addiction can be a challenging journey. We will provide strategies for breaking free from addiction, seeking help, and reclaiming control over your life.

How can I cope with facing a serious illness?

Dealing with a serious illness can be emotionally and physically challenging. We will explore ways to cope with the challenges, find support, and focus on personal healing and growth.

Why is forgiveness so difficult, and how can I let go of anger and resentment?

Forgiving someone who has hurt us can be incredibly difficult. We will discuss the benefits of forgiveness and provide guidance on how to let go of anger and resentment for personal growth and healing.

How can I effectively offer a sincere apology?

Offering a sincere apology requires humility and courage. We will explore the importance of apologizing, provide tips on effective communication of remorse, and fostering understanding and reconciliation.

What steps can I take to mend a broken relationship?

Rebuilding a broken relationship takes time and effort. We will discuss ways to mend relationships, foster healing, and create a stronger and more positive connection.

How can I embrace starting over in life?

Starting over can be daunting, but it can also be an opportunity for growth and creating a fulfilling future. We will provide guidance on embracing new beginnings and moving forward with confidence.

What are the steps to successfully changing careers?

Switching careers can be a difficult decision. We will explore the steps to successfully transition to a new career path, find fulfillment, and navigate through the challenges of change.

How can I cope with rejection and maintain a positive mindset?

Dealing with rejection can be emotionally challenging. We will provide strategies for coping with rejection, maintaining resilience, and fostering a positive mindset in the face of adversity.

What are effective parenting strategies for navigating the challenges of raising children?

Parenting is a rewarding yet challenging journey. We will discuss effective parenting strategies, provide tips for navigating the ups and downs, and fostering healthy relationships with children.

How can I bounce back from failure and find success?

Failure is a natural part of life. We will provide insights on how to bounce back from failure, learn from setbacks, and ultimately find success by transforming adversity into opportunity.

What steps can I take to pursue my dream?

Chasing a dream can be intimidating and challenging. We will discuss ways to overcome obstacles, stay motivated, and take steps towards turning your dreams into reality.

Why is being vulnerable so difficult, and how can I embrace it?

Opening up and being vulnerable can be incredibly difficult. We will explore the benefits of vulnerability and provide tips on how to embrace vulnerability for personal growth and stronger connections with others.

How can I take responsibility for my actions and mistakes?

Taking responsibility for one’s actions is an essential aspect of personal growth. We will discuss the power of accountability and provide guidance on how to take ownership of mistakes, learn from them, and grow as an individual.

What strategies can I use to achieve a healthy work-life balance?

Achieving a healthy work-life balance can be challenging. We will explore strategies for prioritizing self-care, managing stress , and finding harmony between work and personal life for overall well-being and fulfillment.

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Finding Meaning Through Hard Times

By Chris Schembra

Chris Schembra

I wanted to talk to you about the link between meaning, moral courage and gratitude. Just a few days ago, I was re-reading Viktor Frankl’s perennial bestseller Man’s Search for Meaning . In the book, Viktor Frankl says that life is not about seeking pleasure like Freud once said, and life is not about seeking power like Alfred Adler once said, but life is about searching for meaning. Frankl explains that meaning can come from work that’s in service of others in a meaningful way, it can come from loving or caring for someone else, or it can be found by finding moral courage through difficult times.

Practicing gratitude is not just giving gratitude to positive things but giving gratitude to negative things. True growth happens when people acknowledge and are grateful for the ways they’ve gotten through moments of difficulty. Finding courage through adversity results in greater hope, pride, optimism and self-confidence. This is especially true of entrepreneurs who consistently need to find meaning and courage through difficult times.

A few weeks ago, I found a tremendous moment of meaning. I was on the phone with my mother and we were talking about how my uncle’s health was slowly in decline. I told her that I would fly in, rent a car and drive my dad and her sister to go see him in the hospital. My mom was rather shocked that I would drop everything going on leading up to my company’s book launch to fly down and be with them, but nothing else mattered to me except being there for my dad. With both parents in their 70s, it was my time to step up to be there for the family.

I put my dad and his sister in a rental car, and we drove up to North Carolina to make the difficult decision about the remainder of my uncle’s life. Not only was it the perfect goodbye that our family needed, but it was an opportunity for me to show moral courage to my family, and for that I’m grateful. My family has seen me grow up and at my worst of times: spoiled, entitled, enabled, insecure and completely lost. But the hard conversations we navigated together and the mature decisions we made gave me the opportunity to be there for my family when they needed me most. I was able to demonstrate to my family the moral courage I possess, as I step up into leadership of the next generation of our family.

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Moral courage is the willingness to do things in the face of forces that would lead a person to act in some other way.

When difficult times are happening in your life, it’s easy to turn a blind eye. It’s easy to pretend like they’re not happening. But life requires you to stand up with courage and find meaning in the ways you’ve overcome adversity. See, giving gratitude for negative times like this develops the resilience needed to get through further trying times. So once you find meaning in one moment of adversity, it just gets easier after that. Life isn’t just about picture-perfect moments and moments of pleasure. It’s about true, meaningful connection through life’s adversity.

The truth is, your trauma is different from my trauma. Your suffering is different from my suffering, but we share similar emotions through that. And that’s when we connect the best. As a creative, I encourage you to look at your life and observe where you are sacrificing moral courage in favor of short- or quick-term gains.  Where in life have you taken the easy path, and not the path that requires courage and bravery?

As an entrepreneur, you’re going to face many challenging times along the journey.

The key to leading your team is not to take the shortest path for overcoming those challenging times, where you would sacrifice your morals to win. But it’s to maintain integrity, even if the journey becomes a longer one. One of the things we can do as entrepreneurs is to clearly define our values. By knowing and defining your values, you can filter decisions through when times are tough. If times are tough and you sacrifice your values to get through them, you’re out of moral integrity. But if times are tough, and you hold strong to your core values to get through, you’re in complete alignment. Always know that entrepreneurship is a long path, so don’t sacrifice integrity in the short run.

As a creative person, you should actually know that when you take the path of bravery and courage, you will actually become inspired to perform your best work.

The pleasure you seek by getting that next promotion or your next social media like will pale in comparison to the meaning you will find by stepping up and doing what’s right. Go out and seek those moments of courage in your life and I can promise you a life of meaning. Life isn’t supposed to look pretty. It’s filled with hard times like this, and we get to choose how we respond to those events.

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25 Metaphors for Journey

The journey of life is a rollercoaster ride, much like a marathon through a treasure hunt of experiences. It’s a pilgrimage we all embark on, a voyage across the sea of time.

Sometimes, it’s a road trip filled with hikes and safaris through the wilderness, while at other times, it feels like a journey to the center of the earth. Metaphors provide a unique way to understand and describe the various aspects of our journeys in life.

In this article, we’ll explore 25 captivating metaphors for a journey, each with its own distinct meaning and a sentence to illustrate it.

25 metaphors for journey

Metaphors for Journey

1. the journey of life.

Meaning: This metaphor refers to the entirety of a person’s life, from birth to death, and all the experiences and events that occur along the way.

In a Sentence: The journey of life is filled with both joyful moments and challenging obstacles, all contributing to our personal growth.

2. A Rollercoaster Ride

Meaning: This metaphor refers to the ups and downs, twists and turns, and unexpected events that can occur during a journey.

In a Sentence: Last year felt like a rollercoaster ride, with unexpected job changes, family surprises, and travel adventures.

3. A Marathon

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey is a long and grueling effort that requires persistence, endurance, and determination to complete.

In a Sentence: Pursuing a Ph.D. often feels like running a marathon, requiring years of dedication and hard work.

4. A Treasure Hunt

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey is an exciting and adventurous quest to find something valuable or sought after.

In a Sentence: Exploring the ancient ruins felt like a treasure hunt, as we searched for hidden artifacts beneath the layers of history.

5. A Pilgrimage

Meaning: This metaphor refers to a journey made for a spiritual or religious purpose, often involving a long and difficult journey to a sacred place.

In a Sentence: The pilgrimage to Mecca is a deeply spiritual journey for millions of Muslims worldwide.

6. A Voyage

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves traveling over water, often involving a ship or other vessel.

In a Sentence: Sailing across the Atlantic Ocean was a transformative voyage, allowing me to connect with the vastness of the sea.

7. A Road Trip

Meaning: This metaphor refers to a journey made by car, often over a long distance and involving many stops along the way.

In a Sentence: We decided to take a spontaneous road trip, exploring hidden gems along the scenic route.

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey is a physical journey, often over rough or challenging terrain.

In a Sentence: Hiking through the rugged mountains gave me a sense of accomplishment and an appreciation for nature’s beauty.

9. A Safari

Meaning: This metaphor refers to a journey made for the purpose of observing or studying wildlife, often in an exotic or foreign location.

In a Sentence: Going on a safari in Africa allowed us to witness the majesty of wild animals in their natural habitat.

10. A Journey to the Center of the Earth

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves exploring unknown or hidden depths or depths of the earth.

In a Sentence: Starting a new business feels like a journey to the center of the earth, with unforeseen challenges lurking beneath the surface.

11. A Journey Through Time

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves traveling through different periods of history or different stages of life.

In a Sentence: Visiting historical landmarks is like taking a journey through time, as you immerse yourself in the past.

12. A Journey to the Stars

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves reaching for the heights or exploring the vastness of space.

In a Sentence: Pursuing your dreams can often feel like a journey to the stars, filled with infinite possibilities.

13. A Climb Up a Mountain

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves overcoming obstacles and reaching new heights or accomplishments.

In a Sentence: Graduating from college felt like a steep climb up a mountain, but the view from the top was worth every effort.

14. A Journey to the Top

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves striving for success or reaching a high level of achievement.

In a Sentence: Climbing the corporate ladder requires dedication and hard work, as you strive for your journey to the top.

15. A Journey to the Bottom

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves exploring deep or hidden depths or uncovering the truth about something.

In a Sentence: Investigating the unsolved mysteries of history often leads to a journey to the bottom, where hidden truths may lie.

16. A Journey Through the Desert

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey is a difficult and challenging experience, often involving isolation or a lack of resources.

In a Sentence: Starting a small business during a recession can feel like a journey through the desert, with scarce opportunities.

17. A Journey Through the Jungle

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey is an exciting and unpredictable experience, full of dangers and unknowns.

In a Sentence: Navigating the world of startups is like a journey through the jungle, where you must adapt to survive.

18. A Journey Through the Darkness

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves facing challenges or obstacles that are difficult to see or understand.

In a Sentence: Overcoming personal struggles often feels like a journey through the darkness, but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

19. A Journey Through the Wilderness

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves exploring uncharted or unfamiliar territory.

In a Sentence: Venturing into a new career field can be a journey through the wilderness, as you navigate the unknown.

20. A Journey Through the Looking Glass

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves entering a world that is different or strange in some way, often involving a shift in perspective or understanding.

In a Sentence: Traveling to a foreign country is like a journey through the looking glass, offering a fresh perspective on life.

21. A Journey Through the Maze

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey is a confusing or convoluted experience, involving many twists and turns.

In a Sentence: Navigating the complexities of bureaucracy can feel like a journey through a never-ending maze.

22. A Journey Through the Underworld

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves exploring the depths of the earth or facing dark or difficult challenges.

In a Sentence: Recovering from a severe illness can be a journey through the underworld, battling against the odds.

23. A Journey to the Promised Land

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey is a quest for something that is desirable or sought after, often involving a sense of hope or optimism.

In a Sentence: Pursuing one’s dreams often feels like a journey to the promised land, where success awaits on the horizon.

24. A Journey Through the Fire

Meaning: This metaphor suggests that a journey involves facing difficult or intense challenges that test one’s strength or resilience.

In a Sentence: Surviving adversity is like a journey through the fire, where your inner strength is forged in the flames.

Metaphors for journeys enrich our understanding of life’s diverse experiences. Each metaphor provides a unique perspective, allowing us to relate our personal journeys to familiar concepts such as rollercoaster rides, treasure hunts, or voyages. Whether we’re climbing mountains or navigating through mazes, our journeys shape us and define our stories.

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The challenging journey from trauma to post‐traumatic growth: Lived experiences of facilitating and hindering factors

Hulda s. bryngeirsdottir.

1 School of Health Sciences, University of Akureyri, Akureyri Iceland

Sigridur Halldorsdottir

Many people experience psychological trauma during their lifetime, often negatively affecting their mental and physical health. Post‐traumatic growth is a positive psychological change that may occur in an individual after having processed and coped with trauma. This journey, however, has not been studied enough.

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore people's experience of suffering psychological trauma, the personal effects of the trauma and the transition from trauma to post‐traumatic growth.

A purposeful sample of seven women and five men, aged 34–52, were selected whose backgrounds and history of trauma varied, but who had all experienced post‐traumatic growth. One to two interviews were conducted with each one, in all 14 interviews.

This study introduces a unique mapping of the challenging journey from trauma to post‐traumatic growth through lived experiences of people who have experienced trauma as well as post‐traumatic growth. Participants had different trauma experience, but their suffering shaped them all as persons and influenced their wellbeing, health and view of life. Participants described post‐traumatic growth as a journey, rather than a destination. There was a prologue to their journey which some described as a hindering factor while others felt it was a good preparation for post‐traumatic growth, i.e. to overcome difficulties at an early age. Participants described six main influencing factors on their post‐traumatic growth, both facilitating and hindering ones. They also described the positive personal changes they had undergone when experiencing post‐traumatic growth even though the epilogue also included heavy days. A new theoretical definition of post‐traumatic growth was constructed from the findings.

The results suggest that the journey to post‐traumatic growth includes a recovery process and certain influencing factors that must be considered. This information has implications for professionals treating and supporting people who have suffered traumas.

INTRODUCTION

Many people suffer psychological trauma during their lifetime. Suffering trauma can play a large role in the development of various psychological problems [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Trauma occurs due to a threatening and unexpected event that the individual does not control and may have challenged the perception of living in a safe and predictable world [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. The more the event affects the person directly, the greater the risk of emotional harm [ 5 , 9 , 10 ].

Known negative emotions following trauma are shame, sadness or depression, anxiety and guilt, especially after a personal trauma [ 2 , 11 , 12 ]. Research has shown that a variety of risk and protective factors affect an individual's response to personal trauma, such as the person's previous suffering of trauma, the severity of the trauma and other's reaction to the trauma [ 13 ]. Social support is a positive, protective factor [ 14 , 15 ].

Various factors other than the trauma itself may affect people's reactions to trauma, e.g. stress levels before the trauma [ 8 , 16 ] and current stress [ 17 ]. Furthermore, relief, adaptability, what the person considers important, life‐satisfaction and positivity are also key factors when it comes to individual response to trauma [ 17 ]. Research indicates that those who suffer more than one type of trauma may be more likely to experience health problems than those who suffer a single trauma. However, other factors such as the severity of the trauma [ 7 , 18 ], culture, and type and combination of traumas are also important in this regard [ 4 ].

Trauma causes stress and stressful events in people's lives can have a measurable effect on their neurological and immune responses which can affect the individual's mental and physical health, well‐being and quality of life [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Excessive stress interferes with the coordination of the body's defence systems, which can then adversely affect an individual's physical and mental well‐being. If the stress is prolonged, it can contribute to long‐term negative effects on the individual [ 24 , 25 ].

Experiencing potentially harmful life events can lead to feelings of helplessness or great fear, causing traumatic stress and even post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [ 8 , 15 , 26 ] which is one of the most serious and inhibiting types of stress [ 5 , 27 ]. PTSD has a negative effect on the individual's physical and mental health; its main symptoms are intrusive thoughts about the trauma, avoidance of what is reminiscent of the trauma, hypersensitivity [ 2 , 28 , 29 ] and fear [ 2 , 6 , 30 ]. Cumulative stress due to previous trauma can affect whether, how much and for how long people suffer from PTSD [ 7 , 26 , 31 ]. Studies indicate that experiencing safety and social support reduces the likelihood of developing symptoms of PTSD [ 6 , 15 ].

Post‐traumatic growth is a positive psychological change that may occur in an individual who has suffered a trauma. Research suggests that such growth consists of five main factors: people experience increased spiritual development, see new possibilities in life, value life more than before, experience increased personal strength and better relationships with others [ 32 , 33 ]. When assessing post‐traumatic growth, all these factors are considered [ 34 ]. Research has shown that some of those who have suffered trauma describe these extensive positive changes in their lives as a result [ 35 , 36 ]. Individuals living in tornado areas in Australia were studied by Pooley et al. [ 10 ] regarding stress and post‐traumatic growth. The results of that study show that those who have resilience and self‐efficacy are more likely to positively grow despite experiencing serious threats or adversity. Thus, trauma can sometimes increase people's ability to cope, adapt and even embrace a new stressful reality so that they become stronger than ever before [ 7 ]. Seeing post‐traumatic growth as a goal, the journey from suffering a psychological trauma towards post‐traumatic growth needs to be better understood so that professionals can better guide them on their journey. Therefore, the aim of the study was to increase knowledge and deepen understanding of the key influencing factors in suffering a psychological trauma, the personal effects of experiencing the trauma, and how people describe the transition from trauma to post‐traumatic growth.

The research questions were:

  • What is people's experience of suffering psychological trauma?
  • What is people's experience of mental and physical symptoms following trauma?
  • What is people's experience of factors affecting their journey from trauma to post‐traumatic growth?
  • What is people's experience of post‐traumatic growth?
  • What is the epilogue of people experiencing trauma and post‐traumatic growth?
  • Based on the participants' experience what is the theoretical definition of post‐traumatic growth?

METHODOLOGY

To answer the research questions, a phenomenological method was used, i.e. the Vancouver‐School of doing Phenomenology (in short Vancouver‐School), which aims to understand participants’ experiences of certain phenomena by examining their description and interpretation of their experiences [ 37 ]. Each participant is seen as a case study, and the method is based on analysis of individual cases (steps 1–7) and then an inter‐cases analysis (steps 8–12). The implementation of the study was conducted consistent with these 12 main research steps (see Table ​ Table1 1 ).

The 12 basic steps of the research process of the Vancouver School in this study

The research process in the Vancouver School is characterized by seven main cognitive factors which are set up as a circular process which is repeated throughout the research process (see Figure ​ Figure1 1 ).

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The research process of doing phenomenology in the Vancouver School [Modified figure from Halldorsdottir, S. (2000)[ 37 , p. 56]. Used with permission]. This cycle is repeated in every of the 12 steps of the Vancouver School

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria included having suffered a psychological trauma and having been unable to work or having dealt with reduced working capacity following the trauma due to physical and/or mental health reasons caused by the trauma, followed by a self‐described post‐traumatic growth. Further inclusion criterion was that a participant had not received a psychiatric diagnosis before the psychological trauma and that more than six months had passed since the participants suffered the trauma.

The participants were recruited in collaboration with different rehabilitation resources and among colleagues, who introduced the participants to the first author. A theoretical definition of post‐traumatic growth was used when recruiting participants (see Table ​ Table2). 2 ). To get the widest possible scope in the study, emphasis was placed on selecting participants who had suffered different types of traumas. A purposive sample was used, and interviews were conducted with seven women and five men. The participants were aged 34–52 and had all been unable to work or dealt with reduced working capacity following their trauma.

The working definition of post‐traumatic growth (PTG) used in the study

[The researchers based their definition of post‐traumatic growth on Ref. 16 , 17 , 28 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ]

Data collection and data analysis

An interview guide designed by the researchers was used, and the length of the interviews ranged from 23 to 81 min. The data collection and analysis are described in Table ​ Table1. 1 . Examples of interview questions are, e.g. how would you describe your experience of suffering a psychological trauma? Can you describe the mental and physical symptoms following the trauma? Can you describe your experience of factors affecting your journey from trauma to post‐traumatic growth? How would you describe your experience of post‐traumatic growth? Can you tell me about the epilogue of your experience of trauma and post‐traumatic growth? The interviews were conducted via a tape recorder in places chosen by the participants during a three‐month period. After the initial data analysis of the first author, both authors were involved in the data analysis and data presentation. The first author is experienced in interviewing people, and the second author has a 34‐year experience of doing qualitative research.

Validity and reliability

To reduce the likelihood of homogeneity, participants were selected who had suffered different kinds of trauma, of both sexes and of diverse ages. Interviews were conducted until the researchers agreed that data saturation had been achieved and the research questions could be answered.

The first author who conducted and did the primary analysis of all the interviews is an MSc nurse with broad experience of nursing for the past 25 years. She has considerable knowledge and experience of in‐depth interviews and of building rapport with respondents. She has personal experience of suffering psychological trauma followed by post‐traumatic growth. Blythe et al. [ 38 ] investigated the challenges of being an insider in storytelling research and found that this can have both advantages and disadvantages. It is important that researchers are aware of these possibilities and take measures to minimise their effects [ 38 , 39 ]. The first author was aware that her experience of post‐traumatic growth could influence the research process. To minimise that risk, she consciously set aside her preconceived ideas of the subject, using the research process in the Vancouver School (see Figure ​ Figure1) 1 ) and by supporting the results by direct quotations from the participants. The research process in the Vancouver‐School has inbuilt verification in steps 7, 9 and 11 which increased the validity and reliability of the study, so all participants reviewed their own individual analytic framework as well as the final analytic framework (all but one who did not respond) (see Table ​ Table1 1 ).

Research ethics

The main principles of research ethics guided researchers in the study. The Icelandic National Bioethics Committee granted permission to conduct the study (reference no: VSN‐15‐102). Each participant received an introductory letter and an oral presentation about the study and signed an informed consent. In the introductory letter, possible participants were informed about the purpose of the study, the research method and what was involved in participation. They were informed of their rights to participate voluntarily and to withdraw from the study whenever they wished, as well as of anonymity and absolute confidentiality. Transcripts with anonymised interview data were stored in a locked cabinet in a safe place. All names in the study are pseudonyms.

It was recognised that participation in the study could cause participants’ emotional distress as they were reviewing difficult periods in their lives. Therefore, the first author contacted each participant again by phone 7–10 days after each interview to check on their well‐being and again later in the research process to seek verification of each individual case construction with the relevant participant ( verification 1 , step 7 in the research process), as well as the verification of the final analytical framework ( verification 3 , step 11 ). Participants were offered the psychological support of a mental health professional, free of charge, if they felt the need for one. No participant took advantage of that.

The psychological traumas the participants suffered were negative in themselves and had a lasting effect on their lives. Everyone described how this life experience had shaped them as persons and influenced how they view life today. For the participants, post‐traumatic growth was more of a journey than a destination and there were many influencing factors on the journey, both facilitating and hindering ones. The overall findings are shown in Figure ​ Figure2, 2 , as well as in Tables ​ Tables3, 3 , ​ ,4, 4 , ​ ,5, 5 , ​ ,6. 6 . Figure ​ Figure2 2 portrays the six main influencing factors that affected the participant's journey towards post‐traumatic growth. It also shows the prologue to the trauma and, finally, the epilogue, i.e. how the participants felt today, their ‘heavy days’ and the lessons they have learned from their challenging life experience.

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The journey towards post‐traumatic growth

Mental and physical symptoms of suffering psychological trauma

Participants' experience of factors affecting their journey from trauma to post‐traumatic growth

Participants‘ experience of post‐traumatic growth

A new theoretical definition of post‐traumatic growth based on the participants’ experiences

The prologue: The participants' history and past traumas

When participants started to tell the story of their journey from trauma towards post‐traumatic growth, they talked about their previous traumas. They described how previous life experiences influenced their reaction to the latest trauma that almost caused them to lose their health. Ten participants spoke unsolicited about their childhood, describing challenging conditions and poor parenting methods at their childhood homes and the psychological traumas they suffered as children. Hannah reminisced:

[There] was a lot of drinking in the home, lack of money and such. You watched domestic violence and your parents were fighting and you did not get this warmth in childhood as you show your own children today. There was no kiss and "I love you" … You got no help with homework or anything so you were teased throughout primary school and performed very badly in school. I did not understand anything.

Participants linked their characters and defences in adulthood to their childhood experiences, but few of them had processed their childhood suffering and traumas. Gregor recounted:

I was raised in such a way that you should not complain, and you should not cry. I should be big and strong, and I've always been like that … at the end I just broke. There was something [within me] that just broke.

Seven participants felt that difficult experiences in their youth had been a good preparation for the trauma they suffered later in life. Liam explained: ‘I think that when I was very young, I grew some kind of "shell" [by suffering traumas as a young boy] and somehow this "shell" just kept me going in life … but still this "shell" was not comfortable to wear’. However, several participants described how the snowball effect of their previous traumas caused them to ‘lose it.’

Suffering the psychological trauma

The psychological traumas that participants suffered and caused upheavals in their lives were of various kinds. The traumas were all very personal and were related to the participants’ own life and health or those of their loved ones. All the traumas had serious and very personal consequences for the participants who came close to losing their mental and physical health. The traumas included accidents, serious illness of a child, suicide of a loved one, experiencing violence or severe bullying, losing a job, serious illness, divorce, mental illness of a loved one, adultery, serious financial problems and loss of housing. The period following the trauma was often accompanied by intense internal conflict and discomfort, which initially had a negative effect on the individual's self‐esteem and interactions with others. Six participants described their feelings of anxiety and depression. Seven participants showed strong symptoms of PTSD, and three of them received a formal diagnosis of PTSD. The trauma and the process that followed had profound effects not only on the participants but also on their personal network, especially those closest to them. All the participants described mental and physical symptoms following the trauma (see Table ​ Table3), 3 ), and these symptoms caused a significant reduction in their quality of life.

Key influencing factors on the journey towards post‐traumatic growth

Despite different backgrounds and trauma histories, participants had several things in common when it came to responding to the trauma, processing it and coping with it on their journey to post‐traumatic growth. According to the participants’ descriptions, there were various factors that influenced how life after a trauma developed, how long the symptoms of the trauma lasted and how they recovered from the psychological trauma. Everyone agreed that support had positive effects on the journey towards post‐traumatic growth, while lack of support had negative effects. The six main influencing factors were significant others, environmental factors, further traumas, internal factors, professionals and the system and, finally, rehabilitation. An overview of the key influencing factors on symptoms of psychological trauma and the process to post‐traumatic growth is found in Table ​ Table4 4 .

Significant others were very important to the participants and had great impact on their journey either positively or negatively. The trauma generally put more strain on loved ones and their home life.

Environmental factors . Reactions from other people in the participants’ close environment regarding their traumas were very different. Participants who experienced compassion and support said it was precious, while lack of support resulted in negative and destructive feelings.

Further traumas occurred in the lives of all participants on their journey to post‐traumatic growth, which in all cases had negative effects on their well‐being and delayed the process of post‐traumatic growth. Four participants felt that the help they had already received from professionals in dealing with previous traumas was useful when further traumas occurred. Five participants felt that previous traumas helped them to deal with further traumas. Liam described this:

I felt like I was … so used to this [to suffer trauma] … it did not surprise me anymore. It turned into anger or something. But nothing like "why me" or something like that … it all just stopped surprising me.

The most frequent type of further trauma was related to the participants’ poor economy due to prior trauma.

Internal factors of all participants had either positive or negative effects on the symptoms of the trauma, the sequence of events that followed and the processing of the trauma. The most important internal factors mentioned were willpower and courage. Good upbringing, self‐examination and previous suffering of traumas were among the factors that the participants felt had positive effects on their journey. On the other hand, they felt that uncertainty, self‐prejudice, co‐dependency and financial worries were strong negative factors that delayed their journey towards post‐traumatic growth.

Professionals and ‘the system’ . Eleven participants had used professional help and felt that it had helped them very much. The participants sought advice and assistance of various kinds, e.g. from psychologists, trade unions, family counsellors, health professionals, social services, alternative medicine, lawyers and most participants were satisfied with these services. However, they often found information and guidance on possible next steps unsatisfactory and felt that the various systems pointed at each other. As a result, the participants sometimes experienced complete confusion, which had a negative effect on their mental and physical well‐being and recovery process. So, these services had various effects on their well‐being, either in a positive or negative way.

Six participants considered it necessary to make changes to many existing ‘systems’ in society to better care for people suffering from psychological trauma.

When people suffer trauma [it is important] that there is someone there for you within the health care system who will take you by the hand and guide you for the first week or two, to get you started. Someone who calls just to follow up on this. I think it is crucial for people who suffer traumas … There is also a need for flexibility in the labour market for people who experience such a situation (John).

Nine participants found it difficult to pursue their rights and find ways to respond to the challenging situation in which they found themselves as Ivor explained: ‘The only answer I got was "you have no rights here"’.

Rehabilitation . Specialised rehabilitation measures were very important to those participants who utilised them. Participants emphasised the importance of early intervention and long‐term management and support. Most participants received their rehabilitation from vocational rehabilitation services. How they got in touch with those services differed greatly as did the time that elapsed from their trauma until they got to know the rehabilitation services, which was from a few months up to seven years. The participants were satisfied in general with the services and the consultants’ work and described the service as a positive turning point in their recovery process and journey to post‐traumatic growth. They underlined the individual's own will and positivity as the key to success in rehabilitation.

It is meaningless to go in there just to pretend to take part in this … and you must take part with a positive mindset (Liam).

Five participants started or continued their studies and found this to have a constructive effect on their lives.

The rehabilitation services supported people in going back to work. Only two participants went back to their previous jobs; one of those had problems with the company in going back to her job. Employment, however, was very important to the participants and had a constructive effect on their lives but six participants reported hindrances when entering the labour market after their recovery.

All participants said that post‐traumatic growth had taken place due to their own internal need for change. Each one defined their starting point and where they wanted to go. Then and not before, post‐traumatic growth could begin. For many, it was the children and/or immediate family that made them realise the need for change.

I treated my daughter so badly one time … she stopped talking to me … and in losing her, my bottom was reached … Then I started trying to fix things (Liam).

The need for change in life emerged in different ways, for example after seeing a therapist or with the help of a relative or friend or even through studying. For others, it was an internal factor and ambition that became the trigger for change towards post‐traumatic growth.

All participants expressed their views on the preconditions for achieving post‐traumatic growth and the usefulness of external factors such as external assistance, management and follow‐up. However, in general, the participants felt that their personal qualities were most important in that matter.

Look, I was completely broken down, lying completely flat on the ground and I just allowed myself to lie there. The thing is that sometimes you must lie down. After a certain time, you lift your head, you sit up and look around for a while, and then maybe you lie down again, to get a little more energy. When you are ready you sit up, sit for a while to get your bearings before you get up and move on in your life again. No one can tell you to recover and you just recover. You have to feel the desire yourself and the purpose (Maria).

Post‐traumatic growth

Participants all described their post‐traumatic growth: how they confront their own feelings more freely, have deeper relations to others, experience personal growth, live more wholesome lives, know themselves better and have a stronger self‐image. Participants described numerous other positive outcomes of their post‐traumatic growth. Some had found their vision, the process being their own resurrection. They reported increased social activity, positivity, patience, being more appreciative of themselves and felt like winners in life. They discussed their feelings of economical safety, less stress, freedom, power, and energy. They said they were in love or ready to look for love, consciously nourishing their strength and did not experience any regrets. An overview of their experience is found in Table ​ Table5, 5 , and the resulting new definition of post‐traumatic growth from the participants’ perspective is found in Table ​ Table6 6 .

Epilogue: Optimism coupled with heavy days

All the participants said that they were in a good place and that they were optimistic about the future, despite various uncertainties, and intended to continue working on their post‐traumatic growth. Eight participants wanted to share their experiences, which was the reason for their participation in the study, and five of them had already done so. Despite their experience of post‐traumatic growth, participants talked about negative long‐term effects of their trauma, such as ‘heavy days’, impaired work capacity, inner insecurity and other negative outcomes (see Table ​ Table7 7 ).

Participants‘ negative long‐term effects of trauma in spite of post‐traumatic growth

Despite the great difficulties they encountered, the participants agreed that the positive factors that accompanied this life experience, the post‐traumatic growth, outweighed the negative factors when they arose. Beatrix explained: ‘I say it and I mean it, you know I'm the luckiest woman in the whole world… because I've been through these traumas which make me the woman I am today’.

This study introduces a unique mapping of the challenging journey from trauma to post‐traumatic growth through lived experiences of people who have experienced trauma as well as post‐traumatic growth. One of the important findings of the study is that according to the participants, post‐traumatic growth is more like a journey than a destination and there are many influencing factors on that journey, both facilitating and hindering ones. The journey included a recovery process and had a prologue, most typically the participants’ negative experiences in childhood e.g., poor home conditions and bad parenting methods. The trauma revolutionised their lives. The consequences of the traumas were serious, and they felt close to losing their physical and mental health. Yet they were thankful for this challenging life experience and described their post‐traumatic growth as a valuable outcome of their suffering. They all described how this life experience had shaped them as persons and influenced their view of life in a positive way even if they still had to deal with ‘heavy days'. A new theoretical definition of post‐traumatic growth, from the participants’ perspective, was constructed from the findings, which is a further contribution to the literature.

The factors that had not been previously identified following a trauma and could therefore be culturally significant for this population is that many participants felt that difficulties in childhood were a good preparation for the traumas they later suffered. This would be worth investigating further. Notably, several participants described how the snowball effect of previous traumas made them almost lose their footing in life.

The participants unanimously agreed that social support positively affected their journey while lacking support had negative effects. This is in line with other research findings [ 6 , 15 , 40 ]. Most of the participants experienced support from friends. However, male participants experienced mixed reactions from friends. Women are known to be more likely than men to respond to traumas with social and nurturing behaviour i.e., tend and befriend, and systematically seek support [ 30 , 41 ]. This may explain this gender difference to some extent but is worth studying further.

Being able to work and having a job had constructive effects on the participants’ lives. However, some of them experienced lack of both willingness and flexibility on behalf of the labour market when it came to going back to work, as reported in other studies [ 42 , 43 ].

Many of the participants said that they were not in a condition to seek their rights and find out what options were available to them after the trauma, which made them even more vulnerable. A qualitative study on the experience of individuals dealing with reduced working capacity and their communication with professionals during that period showed that advice and support from caring, professional and humane professionals is valuable [ 43 ]. It is important that all professionals, e.g. in the social‐ and healthcare systems, respond to the traumas of their clients through early diagnosis and intervention, as well as support, care and follow‐up.

The participants experienced that they had the willpower and courage needed to reach post‐traumatic growth. It must be borne in mind that only people who had reported post‐traumatic growth were included in the study. It is potentially worthwhile to investigate willpower and courage further among people suffering trauma and even find ways to help them develop these important characteristics.

Participants described improved communication and emotional connection with their loved ones, positive change in self‐image and positive changes in worldview as part of post‐traumatic growth. These descriptions are consistent with Calhoun's and Tedeschi [ 32 ] descriptions of the three main factors of post‐traumatic growth.

Many of the participants spoke of the need to make changes to the ‘system’ so that it becomes more flexible and individualized, thus contributing to the person's recovery and post‐traumatic growth. These research findings support the ideas of other studies on how the structure of the system can affect recovery and post‐traumatic growth [ 44 , 45 , 46 ].

Limitations of the study and future studies

The results of this study describe the influencing factors on the journey to post‐traumatic growth. This information can be useful when treating and supporting people who have suffered traumas. The results are based on 12 participants’ accounts of their suffering of trauma and the experience of post‐traumatic growth. Most participants had attended vocational rehabilitation services, and therefore the sample selection may involve a bias in that regard. Moreover, the participants’ willingness, and ability to express themselves about their experience of trauma and post‐traumatic growth may have influenced the results since many were describing their experience for the first time. It could also be a limitation that participation in this study was based on self‐reported post‐traumatic growth. The psychological traumas that participants had suffered were of various kinds which can be a limitation to this research. Therefore, it would be useful to do further research on post‐traumatic growth among groups of people with defined trauma suffering, such as among women who have survived intimate partner violence.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organisation or entity with any financial interest, or non‐financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTION

Study conception/design: HSB and SH; data collection: HSB; data analysis: HSB and SH; drafting of manuscript HSB; critical revisions for important intellectual content SH; supervision: SH.

ETHICAL APPROVAL

The National Bioethics Committee in Iceland granted permission to conduct the study (reference no: VSN‐15–102).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors express their gratitude to the participants in this study for being willing to describe their traumatic experience and their challenging journey to post‐traumatic growth, for the purpose of giving hope to others. A special gratitude goes to Professor Rhonda Johnson whose comments and feedback on the paper were particularly helpful. We also thank the Icelandic Nurses’ Association for funding the study.

Bryngeirsdottir HS, Halldorsdottir S. The challenging journey from trauma to post‐traumatic growth: Lived experiences of facilitating and hindering factors . Scand J Caring Sci . 2022; 36 :752–768. 10.1111/scs.13037 [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]

The Icelandic Nurses’ Association funded the study.

Synonyms of challenging

  • as in difficult
  • as in demanding
  • as in questioning
  • as in daring
  • as in requiring
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Thesaurus Definition of challenging

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Synonyms & Similar Words

  • complicated
  • backbreaking
  • problematic
  • problematical
  • pick - and - shovel
  • troublesome
  • distressing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

  • undemanding
  • uncomplicated
  • user - friendly
  • persnickety
  • unchallenging
  • nondemanding

challenging

Thesaurus Definition of challenging  (Entry 2 of 2)

  • questioning
  • calling into question
  • calling in question
  • mistrusting
  • kicking (about)
  • objecting (to)
  • championing
  • confronting
  • necessitating
  • calling for
  • crying (for)
  • hurting (for)
  • clamoring (for)
  • stipulating

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“Challenging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/challenging. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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challenging journey meaning

Mustafa Suleyman, DeepMind and Inflection Co-founder, joins Microsoft to lead Copilot

Mar 19, 2024 | Microsoft Corporate Blogs

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Satya Nadella, Chief Executive Officer, shared the below communication today with Microsoft employees.

I want to share an exciting and important organizational update today. We are in Year 2 of the AI platform shift and must ensure we have the capability and capacity to boldly innovate.

There is no franchise value in our industry and the work and product innovation we drive at this moment will define the next decade and beyond. Let us use this opportunity to build world-class AI products, like Copilot, that are loved by end-users! This is about science, engineering, product, and design coming together and embracing a learning mindset to push our innovation culture and product building process forward in fundamental ways.

In that context, I’m very excited to announce that Mustafa Suleyman and Karén Simonyan are joining Microsoft to form a new organization called Microsoft AI, focused on advancing Copilot and our other consumer AI products and research.

Mustafa will be EVP and CEO, Microsoft AI, and joins the senior leadership team (SLT), reporting to me. Karén is joining this group as Chief Scientist, reporting to Mustafa. I’ve known Mustafa for several years and have greatly admired him as a founder of both DeepMind and Inflection, and as a visionary, product maker, and builder of pioneering teams that go after bold missions.

Karén, a Co-founder and Chief Scientist of Inflection, is a renowned AI researcher and thought leader, who has led the development of some of the biggest AI breakthroughs over the past decade including AlphaZero.

Several members of the Inflection team have chosen to join Mustafa and Karén at Microsoft. They include some of the most accomplished AI engineers, researchers, and builders in the world. They have designed, led, launched, and co-authored many of the most important contributions in advancing AI over the last five years. I am excited for them to contribute their knowledge, talent, and expertise to our consumer AI research and product making.

At our core, we have always been a platform and partner-led company, and we’ll continue to bring that sensibility to all we do. Our AI innovation continues to build on our most strategic and important partnership with OpenAI. We will continue to build AI infrastructure inclusive of custom systems and silicon work in support of OpenAI’s foundation model roadmap, and also innovate and build products on top of their foundation models. And today’s announcement further reinforces our partnership construct and principles.

As part of this transition, Mikhail Parakhin and his entire team, including Copilot, Bing, and Edge; and Misha Bilenko and the GenAI team will move to report to Mustafa. These teams are at the vanguard of innovation at Microsoft, bringing a new entrant energy and ethos, to a changing consumer product landscape driven by the AI platform shift. These organizational changes will help us double down on this innovation.

Kevin Scott continues as CTO and EVP of AI, responsible for all-up AI strategy, including all system architecture decisions, partnerships, and cross-company orchestration. Kevin was the first person I leaned on to help us manage our transformation to an AI-first company and I’ll continue to lean on him to ensure that our AI strategy and initiatives are coherent across the breadth of Microsoft.

Rajesh Jha continues as EVP of Experiences & Devices and I’m grateful for his leadership as he continues to build out Copilot for Microsoft 365, partnering closely with Mustafa and team.

There are no other changes to the senior leadership team or other organizations.

We have been operating with speed and intensity and this infusion of new talent will enable us to accelerate our pace yet again.

We have a real shot to build technology that was once thought impossible and that lives up to our mission to ensure the benefits of AI reach every person and organization on the planet, safely and responsibly. I’m looking forward to doing so with you.

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challenging journey meaning

'Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End' Ending Explained: Is There More Story To Be Told?

Who passed and who failed the First Class Mage Exams?

The Big Picture

  • Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is a twist on traditional tropes and follows Frieren, an immortal elf mage, after the defeat of the Demon King.
  • In the finale, Fern passes the First-Class Mage exams, but Frieren fails due to differing views on magic.
  • The anime leaves the door open for more stories after the group leaves Äuberst, suggesting there is more story to tell in the future.

What happens when the party of heroes defeats the invincible villain, peace is restored to the world again, and the adventure is over? Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End , one of the best newcomers to the anime scene , twists traditional narrative tropes by telling the life after the story! The anime follows Frieren ( Atsumi Tanezaki ), an immortal elf mage, who decides to leave the royal capital, after defeating the Demon King beside her friends Himmel the Hero ( Nobuhiko Okamoto ), drunken priest Heiter ( Hiroki Tōchi ), and dwarf warrior Eisen ( Yōji Ueda ), in search for a new meaning of life and spells.

Based on Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe 's award-winning manga , the slice-of-life series has gained worldwide popularity, proving that its one-of-a-kind storytelling approach to lore and magic is redefining the genre. Sadly, Season 1 of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End ended on March 22 after a 6-month run. Episode 28, "It Would Be Embarrassing When We Meet Again" is packed with bittersweet goodbyes as the results of the First Class Mage Exam are revealed and Frieren's party takes their leave of the majestic city of Äuberst to continue their journey north.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

An elf and her friends defeat a demon king in a great war. But the war is over, and the elf must search for a new way of life.

The First-Class Mage Exams Are Both Challenging and Tiresome

The main purpose of Frieren's jounrey north is to follow the advice of her late master, Flamme ( Atsuko Tanaka ) the Great Mage, who had an inkling her apprentice would want to seek out the soul of a dead friend. After bringing an era of peace to the world and experiencing Himmel's death, Frieren feels guilty for disregarding the precious time she spent with her dear friend . Her regrets inspire her to return to the Demon King's palace, Heaven, where the souls of the dead reside. Frieren takes her young apprentice Fern ( Kana Ichinose ) and Eisen's warrior apprentice Stark ( Chiaki Kobayashi ) with her on the adventure.

Through several years, the rag-tag trio travels northward, stopping to help others in need. The gang runs into all sorts of mischief as they encounter beastly creatures, conniving demons, a mysterious elf, royals, and long-time friends. Towards the end of Season 1, Frieren, Fern, and Stark have reached the crossing point to the northern lands, but the lands have had repeated attacks from violent demons. To cross, the Continental Magic Association requires all mages to be the highest rank possible — a First-Class Mage. Luckily for Frieren, the exams take place every three years, and it just so happens that the exams are set to take place very soon.

The group arrives in Äuberst, the magic capital, and Frieren and Fern register for First-Class Mage exam. Competing against fifty-two incredible mages, the first stage requires teams of three to capture a meteoric iron bird called the Stille. The second stage leveled up the stakes by challenging the examinees to reach the center of a labyrinth dungeon, Ruins of the King's Tomb, filled with lethal replicas of themselves. Although this conclusion feels like a tedious ending for the series, the "exam period" is a typical arc seen throughout the anime industry, like My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen . But the final stage demands the surviving mages to pass an interview with the judgmental head of the Continental Magic Association, allowing fans to reconnect again with the greatness of Frieren's character.

Fern Passes, but Frieren Fails the Exams Because of Her Views on Magic

The head of the Continental Magic Association is the Great Mage Serie ( Mariya Ise ), who used to be the master of Flamme. Serie couldn't be any different from her gentle apprentice, but she shares the common personality traits of a cold, expressionless elf like Frieren. When it all comes down to the third stage of the exam, Serie fails Frieren almost instantly and Frieren expected just as much. Serie simply views magic as a tool for killing, whereas Frieren strongly believes the greatest enjoyment of magic comes only during the pursuit of it .

Serie harshly criticizes the exam takers, evaluating their worth based on their reaction to her mana, personalities, and stance on magic. With five other mages, Fern passes the exam solely because she rejects Serie's invitation to become her apprentice . Fern's loyalty and confidence in Frieren impresses Serie, and Fern is granted the "Privilege" spell upon obtaining a First-Class Mage qualification. In the market, Frieren runs into one of the passing mages, Wirbel ( Kishô Taniyama ). The two exchange a heartwarming moment as Wirbel shares that he was inspired to become a mage from the stories he heard growing up about Frieren's humble journeys with the Party of Heroes. But what moved him the most was Himmel's passion for helping others and the small deeds that made him a legendary hero

On the day of the Privilege ceremony, Fern invites Frieren and Stark to be her guests, but Serie forbids Frieren to attend. Frieren and Stark wait outside the hall, boasting about Fern's growth. Moments later, Lernen ( Atsushi Mitauchi ), a First-Class Mage and Serie’s apprentice, threatens to kill Frieren on a whim. He believes Serie is lonely without an apprentice she can remember and without one who can go down in history. Lernen demands a duel and attacks Frieren across the shoulder , although she quickly denies the fight.

In a flashback during the final exam, Frieren notices the garden surrounding them was cast with a spell to create a field of flowers — Flamme's favorite. Serie confesses she never regrets that her apprentices haven't surpassed her in power, and she appreciates every mage she teaches despite their failures. Frieren explains this to Lernen, relieving his worries. As the trio says their last goodbyes to the fellow mages in Äuberst, Fern reveals she chose the Privilege spell to make clothes clean and spotless . Frieren couldn't be more proud, and this heartfelt moment shows how much Fern has fallen in the footsteps of her simple-minded master.

The 10 Best Protagonists in Anime, Ranked

How does 'frieren: beyond journey's end' follow life after the story.

Having earned the credentials, the end of Episode 28, "It Would Be Embarrassing When We Meet Again", shows Frieren, Fern, and Stark crossing their way toward the northern lands . Frieren reflects on a time Himmel always said short goodbyes to the people they met throughout their journey. He tells her tearful goodbyes would be embarrassing later if you happened to meet that someone again. With the conclusion of its smash-hit first season, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End demonstrates the power of brilliant pacing paired with characters who are just as easy to connect with as they are humbling. By using a fusion of non-linear storytelling , the show has re-imagined how to tell a magical, medieval story that is unique in the animated world.

Frieren's journey is an important game changer because of its unique deconstruction that follows life after the story where your typical anime focuses on the pursuit to slay a greater evil. Frieren has already won the day, and this dynamic makes the series stand apart from other fantasy anime like Jobless Reincarnation (2021) and Delicious in Dungeon (2024). Season 2 has not been confirmed yet for Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End . However, judging from the after-credits, the journey is far from over.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is available to stream now on Crunchyroll in the U.S.

Watch on Crunchyroll

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NFL bans controversial hip-drop tackle for 2024 season, makes change to challenge rule

The nfl has three new rules for 2024.

2023 HOPE Global Forum

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The NFL adopted three new playing rules that will be in effect for the 2024 season. Here are the three approved by the league at the Annual League Meeting on Monday. 

  • 1. By Detroit; amends Rule 15, Section 1, Article 1, to protect a club's ability to challenge a third ruling following one successful challenge.
  • 5. By Competition Committee; amends Rule 14, Section 5, Article 2, to allow for an enforcement of a major foul by the offense prior to a change of possession in a situation where there are fouls by both teams.
  • 8. By Competition Committee; amends Rule 12, Section 2, to eliminate a potentially dangerous tackling technique.

Hip-drop tackle

It is a foul if a player uses the following technique to bring a runner to the ground:

  • Grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms; and unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner's leg at or below the knee.

The penalty will be considered unnecessary roughness, which will be 15 yards and an automatic first down. 

Getting a third challenge

A team will be permitted a third challenge if it is successful on at least one or both of its challenges. If a team wins both challenges, a fourth challenge will not be permitted. 

The maximum amount of challenges a team can have is three in a game.

Double foul (with change of possession)

If the team last in possession does not have "clean hands" when it establishes possession, the penalties offset, and the down is replayed at the previous spot. "Clean hands" meaning no infringements. 

If both teams foul after the last change of possession (double foul after change of possession), or the offense commits an unnecessary roughness or an unsportsmanlike conduct foul before the change of possession, the penalties are offset, and the team last in possession shall retain the ball at the spot where its foul would be enforced if it was the only foul. 

Here are the rules that weren't approved by the NFL -- or put to table for a later vote or at the next league meeting in May.

  • 2. By Philadelphia; amends Rule 9, Section 2, Article 2, to eliminate the first touch spot after the receiving team possesses the ball  (not approved)
  • 3. By Philadelphia; amends Rule 6, Section 1, Article 1, to permit a team to maintain possession of the ball after a score by substituting one offensive play (4th and 20 from the kicking team's 20-yard line) for an onside kickoff attempt (not approved) .
  • 4. By Indianapolis; amends Rule 15, Section 3, to permit a coach or replay official (inside of two minutes) to challenge any foul that has been called ( Colts withdrew proposal) .
  • 6. By Competition Committee; amends Rule 15, Section 3, Article 3, to include a ruling of a passer down by contact or out of bounds before throwing a pass as a reviewable play  (not approved) .
  • 7. By Competition Committee; amends Rule 15, Section 3, Article 9, to allow a replay review when there is clear and obvious visual evidence that the game clock expired before any snap  (not approved) .
  • 9. By Competition Committee; amends Rule 12, Section 2, Article 6, to expand the crackback prohibition to players who go in motion and move beyond the center to block a defender at or below the knee  (not approved) .
  • 10. By Competition Committee; for one year only, amends Rule 6, to create a new form of a free kick play that is designed to: (1) resemble a typical scrimmage play by aligning players on both teams closer together and restricting movement to reduce space and speed; and (2) promote more returns. Permits the Replay Official automatically review whether a free kick legally touched the ground or a receiving team player in the landing zone (put to table for later vote) . 

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Open seats, primary challenges mean Missouri Senate will see most turnover in two decades

Republican control of the general assembly is not in danger, but persistent gop infighting will play out in senate primaries around the state.

This year’s elections will result in some of the biggest changes in Missouri Senate membership since term limits took effect 20 years ago, with at least nine members exiting the chamber and primary challenges that could send four incumbents home.

The Senate, dominated by a Republican supermajority, is beset by  GOP factional warfare  that has disrupted both this year’s session and those of the past three years. A group that called itself the conservative caucus in 2021 and 2022 before rebranding as the Freedom Caucus, has repeatedly disrupted normal functioning of the Senate.

Filibusters held up approval of a  new congressional district map  and forced  a special session  on provider taxes vital to funding Medicaid. This year, the infighting became so bad several Freedom Caucus members lost committee chairmanships.

For the challengers to GOP incumbents, ending those fights is a theme they think will play with voters.

“When we divide into sub-caucuses, it hurts the conservative agenda,” said state Rep. Mike Haffner of Pleasant Hill, who is challenging state Sen. Rick Brattin in the 21st District. “I belong to the conservative party, the Republican Party, and that’s the only group that I will affiliate with.”

With most seats considered safe for one party or the other and only half of the chamber on the ballot, there is little chance Republicans will lose their majority. Three open seats are considered toss-ups, however, and could end the GOP supermajority if Democrats have a good year.

The turnover this year is comparable to what happened when term limits took effect in 2002. Senators can serve two four-year terms, and that year 12 were ineligible to run for re-election. Ten more were barred from new terms in 2004.

Of the nine members leaving the chamber this year, six must exit due to term limits. Among the others, Sen. Elaine Gannon of De Soto is retiring, Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder of Scott City is running for lieutenant governor and state Sen. Karla Eslinger of Wasola will take over as the  state’s Commissioner of Education  on June 1.

Across the Capitol in the Missouri House, where all the seats are on the ballot, there is a big increase in contested seats  compared to two years ago . In the 2022 election, only 69 of 163 districts had both Republican and Democratic candidates. This year, the major parties will both field candidates in 114 districts. 

To break the Republican supermajority in the Missouri House, Democrats would have to pick up three seats, which  they did in the 2022 elections .

Legislative candidates accounted for 410 of the more than 580 candidates who visited the Secretary of State’s office —  some more than once  —  to put their names on the ballot for posts ranging from circuit judge to governor.

GOP majorities are safe

The reason Republicans seem certain to retain their Senate majority after this year’s election is the seats that aren’t on the ballot. The partisan split in this year’s state Senate elections is seven Democratic seats and 10 Republican. Of the seats not on the ballot, three are held by Democrats and 14 by Republicans.

Every one of the 17 Senate seats on this year’s ballot has a contest. Two, the 13th District in St. Louis County and the 27th District of southeast Missouri, only have a primary.

Until Tuesday, it looked like Democrats would pick up a Republican-held seat with the close of filing. Former state Rep. Stephen Webber of Columbia was unopposed in the 19th District, currently held by Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, until former state Rep. Chuck Basye filed.

The Senate seats expected to be competitive in November are open because of term limits. Two are currently held by Democrats, State Sen. Lauren Arthur of Kansas City in the 17th District and Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo of Independence in the 11th District.

The third is held by a Republican, state Sen. Andrew Koenig of Manchester in the 15th District. Koenig is a candidate for state treasurer.

The incumbent senators facing primaries include two of the chamber’s most conservative members, Brattin of Harrisonville and Mike Moon of Ash Grove, and two first-term Democrats, Barbara Washington of Kansas City and Angela Moseley of Florissant.

Mosley represents the 13th District and her primary against state Rep. Chantelle Nickson-Clark of Florissant will decide who is sworn in as senator in January.

The Democratic primary in Kansas City’s 9th District will pit Washington against Brandon Ellington, a former state representative and former Kansas City councilman. He’s not running because of any particular beef with Washington, he said, except he thinks he could do more.

“I am not running against the Senator, I’m running for the Senate seat, because we need a senator that’s actually going to fight for the residents of the 9th district and have an understanding of suffering across the state,” Ellington said.

Washington, interviewed outside her Capitol office, said she’s brought millions of dollars home for projects important to her district and pointed to the revitalization of the historic Black business district of 18th and Vine. 

“He should look at my record,” she said.

Republican Derron Black of Kansas City will face the winner in November.

Challenging the Freedom Caucus

For Republican incumbents facing a primary, the campaign is opening with heavy criticism from opponents. Challengers said they want to cooperate with GOP leadership in the chamber, not spend days tying the chamber up.

Moon spends too much time obstructing the Senate and too little time working to get his bills passed, said Susan Haralson of Ozark, founder of  Premier Home Health Care  who has filed to run against Moon in the GOP primary.

Moon represents the 29th District in southwest Missouri.

Moon was a member of the conservative caucus, a group formed in 2021 that also engaged in  bitter factional fights , though he is not a formal member of the current iteration of the group called the Freedom Caucus. He often challenges Senate custom, including a 2022 episode when he was punished for  wearing overalls on the Senate floor  and refusing to apologize for breaking decorum.

“He is truly a nice guy,” Haralson said of Moon. “I just think that he’s a little off base.”

Haralson said she wants the Senate to function as a collegial body, not one where factions disrupt debate. 

“I don’t think there’s much that has been accomplished,” she said. “And some of it is because of him.”

In 12 years as a lawmaker, including eight years in the House, Moon has passed one bill, to ban  gender-affirming medical treatments  for minors. It passed last year.

“That is a significant bill passed that will live on way longer than I’ll be alive, and it’s for the protection of children,” Moon said. “I think that’s a substantial benchmark.”

The 29th district was redrawn after the census to include Christian County, where he has never been on the ballot, and to remove Stone and Taney counties, which he carried in his 2020 primary. Haralson lives in Christian County.

Ron Monnig of Eagle Rock filed Tuesday as the Democratic candidate in the 29th District to face the winner of the Moon-Haralson primary in November.

Brattin’s primary opponents in the 21st District in western Missouri are both currently members of the House: Haffner and Dan Houx of Warrensburg. 

Brattin won the primary for his seat in 2020 with 49.6% of the vote and placed second in the 4th Congressional District primary in 2022. He is a member of the Freedom Caucus and lost a committee chairmanship and two vice-chairmanships when Senate leaders lost patience with the caucus’ obstruction tactics.

“It’s sad to me that there are bills that have been in the process over the past three years that died in the last couple of weeks in the Senate that should have passed,” said Houx.

Haffner blames obstruction for the  low number of bills passed  in recent years. 

“Some of the actions that are being taken on the floor are dysfunctional, and it is hurting the opportunity to get the conservative agenda to the governor,” Haffner said.

Brattin had equally sharp words for his opponents.

The 31st District was redrawn after the census, adding Johnson County to Cass and Bates counties and removing Barton, Henry and Vernon counties. That moved Houx out of his previous district, the 21st, represented by Sen. Denny Hoskins of Warrensburg.

“He feels like this is his anointing and it was his rightful office up until redistricting,” Brattin said.

Haffner’s campaign is an example of ingratitude, Brattin said.

“He wouldn’t even be in the position he’s in if it wasn’t for my wife and I to come in and to help him even get elected,” Brattin said. “Now he’s running against us and feels this is his rightful place.”

Raymond James of Leeton is the Democratic candidate who will face the winner in November.

This story was first published at www.missouriindependent.com.

Watch CBS News

Trump's bond is now $175 million in fraud case. Here's what the New York attorney general could do if he doesn't pay.

By Katrina Kaufman , Graham Kates

Updated on: March 25, 2024 / 7:46 PM EDT / CBS News

Former President Donald Trump and other defendants in his fraud case won an appeal Monday to have their bond reduced , requiring them now to put up $175 million within 10 days to pause enforcement of a $464 million judgment against them . If Trump fails to post bond, it could leave some of his prized real estate and other assets vulnerable to seizure by the state.

The bond was lowered from $464 million on the day that a 30-day grace period for payment expired. New York Attorney General Letitia James had indicated her office would pursue Trump's assets if he failed to post bond.

"If he does not have funds to pay off the judgment, then we will seek judgment enforcement mechanisms in court, and we will ask the judge to seize his assets," she said during a February interview with ABC News.

Attorneys for Trump wrote in a March 18 filing in the case that it was a "practical impossibility" for the defendants to secure such a large bond. 

"Very few bonding companies will consider a bond of anything approaching that magnitude," wrote the lawyers, Alina Habba, Clifford Robert, Christopher Kise and John Sauer. They noted that surety providers often require collateral up to 120% to guarantee the bond, driving the amount Trump might need over $500 million.

Trump claimed to have nearly $500 million in cash in a Truth Social post on March 22. In depositions and testimony in 2023,  he claimed to have between $300 and $400 million.

JD Weisbrot, managing director of the surety operation at Risk Strategies, said Trump's options for amassing the full $464 million were "frankly very limited."

"The issue is that this type of bond is very hazardous in nature to a surety company. And why is that? It's a demand instrument, the bond guarantees that in the event that the defendant loses the appeal, that the sum be immediately made available to the plaintiff," Weisbrot said.

As a result, Weisbrot said surety companies want liquid assets as collateral, specifically cash or a letter of credit, and not hard assets like real estate.

The judgment stems from a civil case in which a judge found Trump and others connected to his company liable for a decade-long scheme to use falsified real estate and net worth valuations to obtain favorable loan and insurance rates. The judge concluded Trump and others gained more than $364 million through the scheme.

Bruce Lederman, an attorney who specializes in real estate law  for the New York firm DL Partners, said James' office has a range of options to choose from in its effort to enforce the judgment if Trump fails to post bond.

Once the deadline passes, "the attorney general can start enforcement proceedings, which could include sending restraining notices, could include sending executions to the sheriff for real property, could include tying up security accounts, could include sending notices to companies that they can't make any payments to Donald Trump personally, or any of the children, the boys, against whom judgments are entered," said Lederman, referring to Trump's adult sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr.

To execute on Trump's real property, James could get judicial liens against the properties.  In New York, the process to sell a property takes 63 days. The sheriff's office must publicly post notice of sale in three places in the town or city where the property is located, and the notice must be published four times throughout that period. After 63 days, there is a sheriff's sale, typically on the courthouse steps. 

However, untangling the web of ownership of some of Trump's properties may be challenging. In the event of sale, there are also loans and mortgages that could impact how much the state can even collect - not to mention the disputed valuation of Trump's properties, an issue that was at the heart of the civil fraud trial.

For properties located outside of Manhattan, James has to enter the judgment with local jurisdictions — even those as near as suburban Westchester County, New York, where her office registered the judgment on March 6. 

"The New York judgment can be filed in any state and is then entitled to full faith and credit under the Constitution," said Lederman, who noted that Trump's Mar-a-Lago club might be more complicated to seize than other properties. "Enforcement rights in other states would be based upon the law of the state where property is located. For example, Florida does not allow a sale of a primary residence." 

Adam Pollock,  a former New York assistant attorney general, said a restraining notice would limit Trump's ability to spend freely.

"A restraining notice … says, 'Don't spend money, don't transfer any property, until you pay us.' And for good reason. You shouldn't be out, you know, fueling up your jets with $20,000 of gas, when you owe the people in the state of New York nearly $500 million," said Pollock.

Pollock said James' office could get a bank execution and give it to a New York sheriff or marshal, who can then walk into a bank branch and drain Trump's account. A bank normally has to wait at least 27 days to turn over the money in an account — unless the plaintiff is the state of New York, in which case, the bank is supposed to transfer the funds immediately.

James can also sign an execution forcing Trump to turn over his personal property.

"If I have a judgment against you, I get to take any property I can find of yours. Whether it's your Rembrandt, your Rolls Royce, or your iPad, or like your 500 LLCs that you happen to own," said Pollock.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, could ultimately end up among the one in 100 Americans whose pay is withheld so creditors can collect.

Adam Kaufmann, an attorney at Lewis Baach Kaufmann Middlemiss, said the state could garnish Trump's income and revenues from the Mar-a-Lago Club, for example.

"You could have a president of the United States having his wages garnished by a creditor," Kaufmann said.

  • Donald Trump

More from CBS News

Appeals court scales back bond due in Trump fraud case and sets new deadline

Jeffrey Clark's actions related to 2020 election amount to "coup attempt," panel says

How much is Trump's stake in Truth Social worth after market debut?

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    Trek is also another good word to describe a long, and usually demanding, journey. +1 for trek: "a long arduous journey, especially one made on foot." A a long and arduous journey reminds me of an ordeal. ordeal - (noun) a severe trial or experience, an experience that is very unpleasant or difficult. MW.

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    challenging: [adjective] arousing competitive interest, thought, or action.

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