Does Everything Really Happen For A Reason?

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Life can be difficult. Even when I’ve had everything planned out, life has thrown some curve balls that made me restructure what I planned for my future. It’s frustrating to face situations you didn’t see coming and don’t want to deal with. Those situations have made me ask myself some pretty big questions.

The first question I’ve found myself asking during tough times is if everything really does happen for a reason. People say it all the time, but what if it’s not true? To find the answer to this, I had to look back at the obstacles I’ve faced in the past and what came from them. Was there any positive result from grappling with life’s most unexpected moments?

Everyone has to answer this for themselves, but for me, it seemed like even the worst incidents did happen for a reason. There’s always something we can learn from life, especially when you don’t know what’s going on or why something’s happening. Here’s what I learned from my own past that you may be able to relate to in your own.

SEE ALSO: The Millennials’ Guide To Mindfulness

Challenges create growth

When I have a daily routine I know I can complete easily by the end of every day, I feel conflicted. On the one hand, it’s great to feel confident about what I can accomplish, but on the other hand, life feels stagnant. The only way to experience true personal growth is to either accept the unknown into your life or face it head-on. At one point, a change in jobs interrupted my daily routine. I had to restructure everything and work on something new every day. Even though I could have stayed in my old position and remained at that level of success, I chose to try something new and grow from it in the process.

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Perseverance builds strength

The best way to become a stronger person is to look at what life presents to you and work through it. When I was finishing college, I had to write my thesis. I was about halfway finished when my laptop died, and I lost everything. Instead of losing my mind, I decided to put this challenge on pause until tomorrow and take care of myself first.

After spending the rest of the night relaxing in a bubble bath and binge-watching my favorite shows, I woke up the next day ready to take on my computer problems. I went to three different computer stores to find a repair price that worked with my budget, and then I started my thesis over by memory. I still turned my work in on time and got a great grade, and now I’m even stronger when I have to finish a huge project and must think on my feet.

Positivity reaps rewards

The unexpected parts of life aren’t always bad. Look to the good times, too, to learn something you can hold onto in the future. If you’re having a bad day, celebrate the small things — maybe you get to drive home without traffic or find surprise leftovers in your fridge for dinner. Thinking positively after unexpected things happen is something you can turn into a habit. You deserve goodness in your life, and no other shoe is waiting to drop.

For those who don’t have a religion, it can sound a little cheesy to told that everything happens for a reason. Even though it’s a cliche, I’ve found it to be true in my own life. There’s always something you can learn from the unexpected so you can continue growing as a person and become the best version of yourself.

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