The last thing I watched on Netflix during a period of boredom was something that sparked a realization in myself. Tony Robbins: I am Not Your Guru is a documentary about self-help motivational speaker Tony Robbins, and a day in the life of his career and an inside look at his renowned seminars. Although some find his tactics to be controversial, I Am Not Your Guru says some real shit.
The thing Robbins said that stood out most to me from the two-hour feature was when he spoke to the crowd of about 2,000 people that were looking for change and said, “Your biggest problem is you believe you shouldn’t have them.” Whenever something bad happens in our lives, or we come across a problem that we treat as big (but usually ends up being small), we think “Why me? Why is this happening to me?” Although no one deserves to go through pain, it is necessary. What I’ve, and almost anyone that has gone through the feeling of pain, learned is that at the end of it, you come out a better you.
It is necessary for growth to sometimes feel things that make us sad, to go through suffering. The lessons we learn are much greater than the pain we may feel, and although for some that pain may last longer than for others, you will come out of it a better version of yourself with a new mindset. You would not be the person you are today if you didn’t experience that one event that made you think “Why do I have to go through this?” You had to go through it to grow and learn something about yourself. The experiences you have, good or bad, are what mold you into the person you are, and through the pain you can uncover abilities and skills you never knew you had.
“Problems are what make us grow. Problems are what sculpt our soul. Problems are what make us become more.”-Tony Robbins
Don’t be afraid or discouraged if you are feeling pain, but know that you are strong and without it, you would not be who you are. As long as positive change happens, you will be okay and your pain won’t be for nothing. This doesn’t mean that we should welcome or seek pain in our lives, but when it does happen, we should remember that there is an opportunity for growth and we gain a new perspective through our hurt.
