Stop Whining and Start Mining

I have some bad news and good news.

The bad news is that you are going to have big troubles.  It's pretty much a guarantee that problems are headed your way.  Sometime, somehow, somewhere, you are going to experience difficulty.

Problems are a part of the human experience.  We shouldn't be so surprised when they show up.

The good news is that you don't have to let your troubles get the best of you.  If you process them right, you will grow and become a better as a result.

A few years ago, a buddy of mine called and told me his wife left him.  This terrible ordeal was the most painful and discouraging period of his life.   Someone else made an unfortunate choice that caused his life to crash.

I was impressed with how he handled this heartwrenching situation.  Instead of caving into dispair and giving up on life, he decided to become a railroad engineer.

Even from early childhood, he always wanted to drive a train.  But, life got in the way and circumstances brought him to a job he hated.  The heartbreak also broke the chains around his dream -- and he was free to fly.

Today, he's living his dream --  driving trains across the country and tooting the whistle at intersections.

When life throws you a lemon, make lemonade.

Treat your troubles like a goldmine.  You will find something worthwhile if you keep digging.  In hard times, stop whining and start mining.

Troubles are never neutral.  If they do not do you good, they will do you harm.  You must face them head on with courage and optimism.  The best is yet to come!

If you are walking through a dark valley, remember this is a tunnel, not a tomb.  Keep moving on.  Don't give up.  Sooner or later, you will come out on the other side, with a wealth of wisdom, faith and experience.