Over the last year, I’ve faced many challenges that no one wants to experience. From being laid off to my wife having an emergency c-section, it has been a year that I would never want to relive. Yet, I am not alone in these struggles. We all face these battles, and others—juggling work, raising kids, maintaining relationships— every day tests our mettle. No matter the struggle, these moments demand resilience. That’s where the wisdom of others comes in. Here are five phrases to reframe the wilderness you might be experiencing and thrive in it. These (cheesy, and slightly cliche) sayings will equip you to tame the wild and conquer the battle.
#1 “I’m Off to Slay Dragons”
Just recently, I learned that this is a phrase that my dad uses regularly as he heads out the door to work. If there was ever a man to exemplify the courage, the valor, and the hard work in this phrase, it’s my father. As a teenager, I watched as my dad did everything in his power to provide for our family after he was laid off. At times, he worked in some soul-crushing jobs as he tried to reinvent himself. Yet, he never complained. There will be those stretches in each of our lives, where we are miserable in our current circumstances, but we know that we have been tasked with saying the dragon to protect the kingdom. Use this phrase often during those sojourns in the realm of hardship to remind yourself of your purpose.
#2 “You Have to Be Willing to Crack a Few Eggs If You Want to Make an Omelet”
I’ve heard this saying a few times over the years, but it came into my mind within the last couple of weeks as I’ve been making some changes in my life and at work. To illustrate what this phrase means, imagine a clunky, inefficient process at a factory. In order to correct this process, it will require testing. Unfortunately, testing will likely waste good materials. Do you do it? Well, you have to be willing to make that sacrifice because it will pay off in the end. There are phases or roles in our lives where we have to calculate risks and make some sacrifices. Often that comes in our careers, but it can also come in relationships or other aspects of life. This phrase is a good reminder that sometimes the sacrifice can be hard but if it pays off in the end, it’s worth it.
#3 “Bloom Where You’re Planted”
The planting of the seed is one of the most common analogies used in societies across and throughout all of history. One of Jesus’s most well-known parables is about the planting of a seed. This particular acknowledges the varied soil in which we are planted and the specific challenges that come because of that soil. It applies in a broad sense, as in across life or a large period of time, and it can also apply to more minute periods of time, such as a school year or a weeklong summer camp. I remember my mom giving this advice to me when I complained about the group I was stuck with for a church camp. I tried to take it to heart and I came away from the experience with only positive things to say about my group. Keep this phrase in mind throughout whatever struggle you may be currently going through or that you may be called to go through in the future. Make the most of whatever soil you’re planted in.
#4 “Attitude Determines Altitude”
This phrase is so cliche. It sounds like it’s straight out of a sports movie or a quote from a coach. But phrases become cliche because they typically have truth or wisdom to them. Changing your attitude can change your circumstances. Need I say more?
#5 “You’re Making Good Times Right Now”
Nostalgia can bring happiness as we reminisce on times that were easier or simpler, but it can also be painful. Looking back on simpler times can bring to light buried regret or even simply a longing to be out of the difficult times in which we now live. However, if we can remember to live in the moment, we can slow down and enjoy what’s around us. I mean, have you ever noticed that looking back, life always seems simpler than it is now? From high school to college, newly married to one kid, one kid to three.
Our lives are meant to evolve and change, that’s what gives us meaning. We should expect that our current circumstances are going to seem a lot simpler than what they might be in five years. With that in mind, look for the things that you love about your current phase. What little pieces of joy will you miss most? Even some of the most mundane things can be things that we will look back on with fondness. For me, I look back on jobs I hated and miss the time I was able to spend in the company van driving from job to job, or the quiet of an office that I got to myself. Use this phrase to live in the moment and find the simple joys of the moment.
Conclusion
In the end, most of these phrases have one thing in common– perspective. Shifting your perspective can change your life. The hard things become easy, the people we don’t get along with become our friends, obligations become opportunities. Take these silly phrases and look for opportunities to use them to change your perspective or share them with your kid, wife, or your favorite Debbie-Downer. Better yet, find ways to teach the principles contained in each of these phrases with an object lesson. Literally plant a seed to teach about “blooming where we are planted” or pack up a skillet and a portable gas grill and cook omelets for breakfast at a local park.