A few months ago, I was driving through a massive rainstorm on the interstate through the Columbia Gorge which separates Oregon and Washington. After over an hour, the rain finally abated and the most breath-taking rainbow adorned the sky. In fact, it at once appeared as though I could reach out and touch it.

The proximity of such awe inspiring natural beauty gave me pause, and I couldn’t help but realize that anything magnificent typically requires a battle, a struggle or at lease a period of time in which we find ourselves in need of great patience.

A variety of instances have played out in my life during the past few years that now seem to be showing beautiful colors as the struggles are finally revealing their purpose. While I can’t speak about them just yet, I most certainly will (and trust me, I can’t wait), I continue to be reminded by life of today’s quote and have found it to be true through many occasions involving the grand dreams we dare to dream and the struggles we have to work through to attain them.

What To Do While You’re in the Middle of a Rainstorm Waiting for the Rainbow:

1. Become very clear about why you are enduring the rain. Much like an athlete who has to endure grueling practices for months, sometimes years, before the competition they are training for commences, become clear in your mind as to why you are choosing to fight through the obstacles rather than settle and stay put.

2. Never stop learning along the way. Believe it or not, the delays you are experiencing while running up against obstacles are actually quite  valuable. The additional time you have prior to attaining your goal allows you time to refine, finesse and sophisticate whatever you are about to offer to the world when indeed that opportunity finally arrives. Use it. Don’t waste it by complaining and whining. Recently, I discovered a quote from Marc and Angel Hack Life which summed it up nicely, “Everything in life happens for you, not to you.” So flip this particularly difficult time on its head and assess what knowledge and additional skills you can acquire while you wait in the necessary queue.

3. Be thankful. Too many people in the world simply exist and are thankful to see another day, not necessarily sure of where they’re going or what to ask life for. However, so long as you have a goal, a clear direction that you are following, it is the most satisfying feeling in the world. Why? Because you now know what you need to do. You no longer have to be the Jack of all Trades and the Master of None. You can toss aside the many trades that you just happen to be good at and begin the business of fine tuning those skills that you are not only good at, but will help assist you in attaining your goal.

And when your rainbow finally does arrive (and it will), refuse to forget all of the time, energy, planning and sacrifices you have made to attain your goal. Studies have shown that the successes we enjoy are more fulfilling and we are less likely to toss them aside lightly if they were attained through many a rainstorms. So be thankful, yet again, because the life we want can be ours if we have the courage to refuse to relent.

Have a wonderful start to the week.

[Tweet “So long as you have a goal, a clear direction that you are following, it is the most satisfying feeling in the world. “]

~SIMILAR POSTS FROM THE ARCHIVES:

~10 Ways to Take Command of Your Life

~11 Things You Must Do to Create the Life of Your Dreams

~20 Ways to Banish Worry