How do you handle struggle?" Following my presentation at the 2024 AMEE conference in Switzerland, the question popped up on a monitor. It came from an online conference participant.
After reading the question, I smiled because I was familiar with the topic. I had advice to offer. One of the other panelists spoke first, and then I replied.
I started by sharing a few of my past and present struggles. Earning a PhD, parenting, and moving abroad gave me ample material to draw from for a response. After framing my reply through my challenges, I talked about the remedies.
Engaging in activities that strengthen your mind, body, and spirit is critical to managing life's struggles.
Writing and exercising serve as therapies to help me process stress and gain clarity. They help build capacities and the capillaries necessary for testing endurance and strengthening confidence. Through a pen and some sweat, I have found ways to manage internal challenges and address social justice causes.
How? Let me explain.
When I write, I connect with problems and analyze solutions. Blog posts, articles, and books serve as tools to clear my mind and impact lives.
Working out and prioritizing mindful practices produce a similar effect. Capoeira, running, and lifting weights release endorphins. Exercise combined with yoga, prayer, reading scriptures, and meditation can nourish your body, mind, and spirit.
Exercising, writing, and prioritizing mindful practices help inform one of my life's purposes.
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Too often, individuals from lower-income communities of color suffer from health conditions related to systemic challenges and unhealthy coping mechanisms. When you have limited financial resources, diet, exercise, and most mindful activities become secondary to paying bills and surviving.
By sharing capoeira, leading workshops, and running with others, I have opportunities to support health and wellness among a vulnerable population. I emphasize the importance of developing healthy habits to overcome difficult moments.
Exercise, diet, and mindful practices can serve as forms of medicine. I am not suggesting that they replace modern advances in healthcare. But, if you ever receive a concerning health diagnosis, consider making changes in your lifestyle first before putting all of your faith in a pill.
Would you like a couple more examples of struggle? I got you.
The struggle is Donald Trump attempting to engage in a debate with Kamala Harris. It's about as rough as his horrific claim about Haitian immigrants eating dogs. Struggle is arguing that he is fit for office.
When grieving, you don't need to look for struggle. It shows up without notice. This week, I lost one of my Capoeira teachers, Mestre Rá, in Brazil. Despite his powerful teachings and my practices, I was unprepared for his passing.
Yesterday, a heavy professional blow landed on my chin. It forced me to pick myself off the floor and revisit this post's opening question. The pain is not over yet, but I will survive.
Like you, I always recover from setbacks.
The burning desire to improve helps me find words when I don’t want to write. It has enabled me to write two novels in the last year. No, you won’t find them on bookshelves because I have yet to find an agent to solicit a publishing contract.
I'm not interested in self-publishing. As an independent author, I experienced a struggle with book sales.
How do you handle struggle? The time is now to develop habits that support you in reaching your potential. I suggest identifying the activities that fortify your mind, body, and spirit.
However, you decide to address challenges, be sure your plan includes positive actions that support the process of becoming your best self.
We must find strength in the struggle.
What other questions did I receive after my presentation, and how can they help you think about challenges, creativity, and courage? Watch the video below of my conference presentation. At about the 10:23 mark, the questions from the audience begin.
I agree that strength does come with an ability to overcome struggle, Dr. Lindsay. We get stronger rather than weaker when we take on seemingly insurmountable odds. The guideline of testing ourselves with something stronger than we will probably eventually be required to overcome is more or less the mantra of many professional and amateur sports. And that works for intellectual pursuits as well. Thanks for your thoughtful article. Blessings to you.