Saturday, August 9, 2014

How Do We Survive Through Hardship?

 For updates on Robert Schuller's health click here

"Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever."  Isaiah 40:7b-8




Today we move on to a brief review of Chapter 7 in my new book "Healthy Family, Happy Life: What Healthy Families Learn From Healthy Moms."    
I titled this chapter, "How To Survive Through Hardship" because I believe not only surviving but thriving is a very important, contributing component to our overall health.
I learned early what true, heart-wrenching loss was all about.  When I was just thirteen years old my father died in an automobile accident.  One day he was a healthy, outgoing forty year old and that night, "poof" he was gone forever.  As a result my life and that of my mom and my (then) ten year old brother, was changed forever.  
It's safe to say that all of us go through something really tough at some point in our life.  Maybe it's not the loss of a parent at such a young age but maybe you've been adversely affected by a divorce, the loss of a friend, the devastation of your life's work and thus your identity, the loss of your home, or suffering through a terrible accident or coping with a chronic illness.  God forbid, maybe your've even suffered through the loss of a child.  These are just some of the many hardships that occur as we live and breathe on planet earth.   And I can tell you that I have come through a number of the above situations and it's never easy.   Getting through and conquering these things can be lessons in personal perseverance and growth resulting in ultimately being forged into an even stronger and better person than we were before. 

As in my former chapter reviews I leave you with just one of my practical "helpful hints" located at the end of each chapter.  Today's hint is taken from #3:
3) "Don't share your past or your present challenges with those whom are not emotionally equipped to handle them.  Do not ask for advice from others you think are fragile or not emotionally durable or strong.  Sharing your problems with someone who is not emotionally healthy can cause you more grief and can be a tipping point for the other person.  This is why a professional is so important.  Well-meaning friends may hurt you or unintentionally say things that make your feel worse.  Be careful.  Act wisely."

Join me for "The Call" this coming Friday, August 15th at 6pm Pacific Time.  All you do is dial 530-881-1300 at 6pm and key-in 642848#  We have a special guest so you will want to hear what they have to say!
I will be coming joining you from the I.D.E.A. Convention in Anaheim, California.  

Remember:  God is blessing you always, through all things.

To contact me you can email:  Donna@DonnaSchuller.com



5 comments:

  1. 3) "Don't share your past or your present challenges with those whom are not emotionally equipped to handle them. Do not ask for advice from others you think are fragile or not emotionally durable or strong. Sharing your problems with someone who is not emotionally healthy can cause you more grief and can be a tipping point for the other person. This is why a professional is so important. Well-meaning friends may hurt you or unintentionally say things that make your feel worse. Be careful. Act wisely." --- Dosen't matter with whom we are sharing our problems, we always can be missunderstund and can be hurt then. It's up to our own emotions to let a message in/out our body. A male friend went to the psychiatrist, helping ment instead of speaking just medicine. For me pers. no go! Wanted to say, nobody has the right to judge and tell what is good or not. So let's pray and ask "wisely" God!

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  2. Good thoughts Donna and good to read as Rose added, "pray and ask ' wisely ' of God.

    In hard times I have found, writing out my feelings on paper to be a way of not only "saying what I feel" without drawing in others ( who may be having emotional pain themselves), but also, it has helped me understand where and what was going on with me. Writing thoughts in poetry was good but free hand writing without "form" or trying to be too exacting, particularly helped as I rambled on with pen in hand and scrawled my heart out-then felt exhausted but much satisfied, like having run a marathon.

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  3. Hi Rose and J.M. Thank you both for taking the time to comment. Since this is just a "teaser' to what chapter 7 is all about of course you know that this is just one piece of advice out of 9 "practical hints" listed at the end of my chapter on surviving hardship. You both know me and so you also know that I like to give spiritual, emotional, and physical advice. I try never to be so spiritual that I do "no earthly good." Your comments are always appreciated. God is blessing you. Donna

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  4. Donna, here we are on a Christian page. If people are here, not liking faith, they are wrong here. It's not always easy to give advices. People can neglect them, because it's not what they feel in their hearts or what they imagine. Or simply told, they are very different from our character traits. Conclusion we never can expect a yes, I will do it. How made us God...? Unique! --- The Bible tells us how we should live and go positive and in love towards others! Blessing

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  5. I also lost my dad to a tragic accident in 2002. It brought our family closer and my friends were very supportive. I sought professional help from a therapist I knew well. I didn't discuss the details of the accident with acquaintances.
    Blessings to all.
    Elizabeth

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Thank you for taking the time to comment on my blog. Please try to stay on the topic and remember also that there are many who are struggling through all kinds of challenges. Let's all be kind and thoughtful with our comments please! :D