The older I get the more I realize that humans share many more similarities than differences. And no matter who you are, you’re struggling with something today. None of us are coasting through life unimpeded on an express path to our most ambitious goals. And if you are, hit me up below so we can talk.

We struggle because we’re human. We struggle because we were raised by imperfect people under imperfect circumstances. We struggle because as humans our lives are tied to others – and their struggles. The luckiest of us are able to share our struggles with others and help shoulder the burdens of our loved ones as well.

Through writing, consulting or simply catching up with my own loved ones, I’ve noticed a pattern of similarities between those who handle personal hardships well, and those who never seem able to slide from under the crushing weight of life as imperfect human in an imperfect world.

The ones who consistently come out on top understand the power of progress and consistency.

Actions and decisions are the building blocks of intentionality and goal reaching.

Individuals who cope well with life’s ups and downs realize life is a process of progress.

Progress of experiences. Progress of teaching moments. Progress of reducing our struggles. Progress of self-development. Progress of self. Progress of pain. And progress of overcoming.

We all know age doesn’t equal maturity. We know of people who act closer to their shoe size rather than their age. What we also know is that time and experience will drop off plenty of struggle on your doorstep.

Experience utilized correctly will also show you the best methods of overcoming your struggles simply because you triumphed over it the last time. You found a way through last time, and you’ll find a way next time. Because that’s life. We have to be in love with the process of progress.

No matter our marriage, our debt, our job, our businesses, our family, or our faith, we win by small increments of progress – of wins – of decisions – of actions.

The important thing to recognize is we also lose the same way. With each indecision – each case of settling short of our needs – each seed of doubt we plant – each time we choose a destructive vice – each ignored crucial conversation – each lie we tell ourselves are all a part of the process of failure.

Until we finally give up – ultimately on ourselves.

Intentional or not – for all of us, life is a process.

All of it filled with an amount of struggle. We all share pain. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be human. It’s my hope that more of recognize the choice we have to choose a life a progress through our pains and through our struggles. I hope we realize every single day counts because its a day we’re free to make to make that choice no matter what life decides to leave at our door that morning.

BMWK! What do you do to cope with the ups and downs of life?