Three Ways to Find Hope in the Struggle: How to Conquer Life's Obstacles - Entry by Jessica Wright
Maybe you've been given the mountain to show others that it can be moved. As I reflect on my life, I often wonder why I’ve faced the challenges I have. Growing up in poverty with a single, undiagnosed mentally ill mother was overwhelming at times. But I was blessed with opportunities that helped me push forward. Summer camps, staying with friends’ parents, and my love for music and sports all kept me focused. By 18, I moved out and began building my own path, and I didn't stop until I earned my Master's in Social Work.
Through my work in social work, I’ve heard countless stories of pain and triumph, and I want to understand what helps some people overcome their obstacles. In the tough times, when the mountain feels too big to climb, I hope to inspire you—and myself—to find the strength to push through. The mountains we face—whether struggles at work, in our relationships, or personal addictions—can seem insurmountable.
Addictions, whether to alcohol, sugar (yes, I admit it!), or negative thinking, are some of the biggest mountains many of us struggle with. These struggles often offer temporary relief from deeper pain, but learning to confront and move past them is possible. I believe facing these issues head-on, with the support of others, is key to finding healing.
Working with incarcerated men and children in abusive situations, I've seen firsthand how deep struggles can run. One inmate had his mother shoot him up with drugs at six, while another witnessed his mother being killed in a drug deal gone wrong. These stories are extreme, but they illustrate how deep trauma can shape us. Yet, I’ve also seen the resilience of the human spirit, and that’s what I focus on.
I reflect on my own challenges and try to make sense of them as I help others. I know our world is broken, and hurt people often hurt people. But by extending grace to one another, we can break free from the cycles of pain and struggle. I do this work because I’ve had people support me through my own mountains.
I know that the mountains in my life have been given to me to show that they can be moved. My hope is to guide others to identify the obstacles that need to be overcome to live their best lives. It won’t be easy, but the process will be worth it.
Three ways that help me find hope in life’s obstacles:
Be in community with other believer: it takes a village to be in the word of God and understand what he means. Accountability is also extremely important with people that you like and want their life.
Go to counseling and work through trauma with trauma therapy such as Brainspotting and EMDR. Talk therapy isn’t effective in processing negative thoughts and blockages you may struggle with. Overcoming issues that have left you losing hope matters.
Pay attention to what your soul. Simply said: is what you’re ingesting good or evil?
