As you look back in history, you can find many occurrences of the statement – ‘These are trying times’.  These include era’s such as The Great Depression and right up to our current economic crisis.  This makes it difficult to determine exactly where were the good times, or even if there were any. To many people, life itself has been trying, not just the recent economic issues or job layoffs.  Life is hard now, always has been, and always will be.

But can we prosper in difficult times?  Can we actually be happy during these ‘trying times’?  If life is always hard, must we forever suffer theses difficulties in despair?

NO!

No – you do not ‘have to’ suffer because of ‘trying times’ or any other time. Life is a choice, happiness is a choice, and you can choose to create your world of happiness or you can choose to live in misery.  It’s your choice – not your destiny!

These are easy words coming from someone who has no knowledge of your circumstances, your problems, your past, your abilities, the raw deal life has dealt you.  Are you special?  Does everyone else in the world attend a meeting each night to set out a plan for making your life miserable?  I don’t think so.  Everyone gets dealt a raw deal at some time.  Granted some get more than their share.  But does that mean these selected people are condemned to a life of hopelessness and desperation?  I don’t think so.

If you feel like you are destined to a life of misery, you are looking back instead of looking forward.  You are letting circumstances control you instead of you controlling the circumstances.  Let go of the baggage of the past and look to building the future, your future.

- Joe Freeman