In the epic journey of your life, you’ll travel through a landscape filled with twists, turns, and challenges.

Whether it’s a broken heart, a project that didn’t pan out, or a missed opportunity, you’ll face adversity at some point.

Here’s the thing: pain and suffering are not cut from the same cloth. Temporary pain is sometimes experienced with life’s curveballs, but suffering is a story you craft within your mind. By dwelling, negative thinking, and refusing to move forward.

The silver lining is that you have the power to choose your response to pain. You can transform pain into a springboard for growth and become the finest version of yourself.

It’s about learning from slip-ups, fortifying resolve, and nurturing resilience. Most importantly, it’s recognizing that life’s challenges are opportunities for personal evolution.

Here are some down-to-earth tips:

1. Set Clear Goals: What exactly do you want to achieve and why? Establishing clear objectives is the first step to crafting a roadmap to success.

2. Know Yourself: We all have strengths and weaknesses. Acknowledging and understanding them is key. Focus on honing your strengths and addressing areas of weakness.

3. Never Stop Learning: In this ever-evolving world, continuous learning is crucial. Stay curious, seek knowledge, and keep growing.

4. Challenge the Status Quo: Don’t shy away from stepping out of your comfort zone. That’s where the real magic happens.

5. Pay It Forward: One of the most rewarding ways to grow is by helping others. Start with your team. Lift them up to be the best versions of themselves by adopting the habit of coaching instead of telling.

Another form of suffering is overwhelm.

Even when you’re steering your company in the direction you want, like expanding the team, tackling problems head-on, or innovating new products, it can seem daunting.

You’re charting unfamiliar territory, pushing your boundaries, and asking your brain to create new neural pathways.

I remember hiring an industry expert who bombarded me with questions and ideas for growing my business. I felt overwhelmed, doubting whether I was a capable a leader. I grappled with feelings of inadequacy.

Being overwhelmed, feeling inadequate, and experiencing suffering all stem from the same illusion: thinking your negative thoughts are facts.

Negative thoughts are optional and they cause negative feelings. You’re always in charge of what you choose to think.

When you imagine negative scenarios in your mind with thoughts like, “This will never work!” or “I can’t get it all done!” you will suffer.

Ask yourself, “Will these thoughts help me achieve the outcome I want?” If they’re negative thoughts of doubt or overwhelm, they will not.

Shift your thoughts instead to the outcome you do want, focus on “How Can I…?” questions and you’ll feel better and make faster progress.

Your thoughts create your reality.