The struggle

 This is my outlet. I don't get on here and write fiction. The things you see on here are more often than not based on what I'm dealing with. Writing about it is not just a way to motivate others, but it's kind of my way to talk myself through it as well.

 We all have bad days. Every once in a while we go through our own struggles. Sometimes your shot just isn't falling. Albert Pujols goes 100 at bats without a home run, and it makes headlines. Think about that, a great hitter goes a few weeks without one homer and it's all over ESPN. Wow, my problems aren't half that bad. At least this slump of mine isn't on the world stage, right?

 I've used this baseball analogy before, and like Pujols, I step back up to the plate and keep swinging. Pujols must trust his skill, the talent he's developed after putting in the work, and he knows he'll hit another home run. This time next week, it'll be old news. Your struggles are the same in that regard. You'll have better days ahead, shots will start falling, all will be well.

 Remember, not everything that happens is in your control. Sometimes you work and work, and you are deserving, and someone else, in charge of making a decision, doesn't choose you. We've all been overlooked, we've all been judged and found to be a runner up. Other times, someone else decides they want to let you down.

 Reminder to myself, only you can control what kind of day you have. Only you can let someone else affect your mood and your view on your own life. Outside perspectives are important, but consider the source. There are haters everywhere who have no clue about you, what you've been through, or what success is. But only when you know success yourself will you find that these people really bug you if you let them.

 How you react to struggle says a lot about your character. It's ok to take offense, taking offense shows you care. Don't take crap from anybody, ANYBODY. I'm a firm believer that only God can judge me, or any of us for that matter. Keep in mind that it's not crap automatically. Some people, including myself, sometimes struggle in filtering the constructive messages from the garbage. Like I said, consider the source. The best feedback, good or bad, comes from individuals who care about you and have earned your respect. Strangers, outsiders, etc. don't fall into that category. There's a difference in those who want you to get better and those who think they can judge.

 We learn from our struggles, because we know that one day this same obstacle might present itself again. Tomorrow, you wake up, work harder, and focus on your goals. You can't let a struggle linger and keep you down. If all you can think about is the last shot you missed, you won't make the next one. Be angry at the struggle, be focused on overcoming it, and be ready for what happens next.

 Trust yourself that you'll make the right decisions, with doing the right thing in the forefront of your mind first, and working toward accomplishing your goals right behind. Stay confident, because you've faced much greater challenges than this, and you're better now because of it. Live in your own reality, because in your reality, no struggle lasts forever. Bring it on, I'm tougher than that.

twitter: @travisponton

-TP