What is struggle, but effort exerted to overcome an obstacle.
What is courage, but action taken in spite of fear.
When faced with an obstacle we must first believe we are able to overcome it—otherwise, why would anybody try. Second, we must face our fears and bravely take the first step.
The greatest leader of all time, Jesus Christ, told his followers that in this world they willface trials of many kinds, but to take heart [and be brave] because He has overcome the world. In other words, it is guaranteed that we will face struggles [trials and obstacles], but we can move forward with courage knowing that the struggle is not insurmountable.
Jesus further encouraged his followers that these momentary struggles are for our good and will eventually result in great gain. This suggests that avoiding the struggle will keep us from a better future.
Athletics is a great teacher about the value and importance of struggle—no pain no gain!
Nature is a tough teacher about the value and importance of struggle—survival of the fittest!
I am reminded of a powerful story of a boy’s good intentions in helping a butterfly overcome its struggle (Original Author unknown):
Once a little boy was playing outdoors and found a fascinating caterpillar. He carefully picked it up and took it home to show his mother. He asked his mother if he could keep it, and she said he could if he would take good care of it.
The little boy got a large jar from his mother and put plants to eat, and a stick to climb on, in the jar. Every day he watched the caterpillar and brought it new plants to eat.
One day the caterpillar climbed up the stick and started acting strangely. The boy worriedly called his mother who came and understood that the caterpillar was creating a cocoon. The mother explained to the boy how the caterpillar was going to go through a metamorphosis and become a butterfly.
The little boy was thrilled to hear about the changes his caterpillar would go through. He watched every day, waiting for the butterfly to emerge. One day it happened, a small hole appeared in the cocoon and the butterfly started to struggle to come out.
At first the boy was excited, but soon he became concerned. The butterfly was struggling so hard to get out! It looked like it couldn’t break free! It looked desperate! It looked like it was making no progress!
The boy was so concerned he decided to help. He ran to get scissors, and then walked back (because he had learned not to run with scissors…). He snipped the cocoon to make the hole bigger and the butterfly quickly emerged!
As the butterfly came out the boy was surprised. It had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. He continued to watch the butterfly expecting that, at any moment, the wings would dry out, enlarge and expand to support the swollen body. He knew that in time the body would shrink and the butterfly’s wings would expand.
But neither happened!
The butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings.
It never was able to fly…
As the boy tried to figure out what had gone wrong his mother took him to talk to a scientist from a local college. He learned that the butterfly was SUPPOSED to struggle. In fact, the butterfly’s struggle to push its way through the tiny opening of the cocoon pushes the fluid out of its body and into its wings. Without the struggle, the butterfly would never, ever fly. The boy’s good intentions hurt the butterfly.
Great Leaders understand that as we go through life struggle is an important part of any growth experience. In fact, it is the struggle that enables you to develop your ability to fly.
That is why great leaders brave the struggle and encourage their teams to do the same.
Herb Mast is a Leadership Coach and Employee Engagement Specialist. Learn how he can assist you in implementing the principles and concepts presented here.